Cytogenetics of three species of Brachistosternus Pocock from Argentina (Scorpiones, Bothriuridae)

RODRÍGUEZ GIL, S G.; OJANGUREN AFFILASTRO, ANDRÉS,; BARRAL, LEONEL M

JOURNAL OF ARACHNOLOGY

AMER ARACHNOLOGICAL SOC

Año: 2009 vol. 37 p. 331 - 344

0161-8202

Meiotic studies on three phylogenetically distant species of the genus Brachistosternus Pocock from Argentina were conducted. One species is from the subgenus Ministernus Francke 1985, B. ferrugineus Thorell 1876, and two species are from the subgenus Brachistosternus Pocock 1893, B. montanus Roig-Alsina 1977 (Andean species group), and morphologically different populations of B. pentheri Mello-Leita˜o 1931 (plains species group). All species showed achiasmatic meiosis, absence of heteromorphic bivalents, and bibrachial and monobrachial chromosomes of different sizes. Males of Brachistosternus ferrugineus, B. montanus, and one population of B. pentheri have 2n 5 46. Males of the typical populations of B. pentheri have 2n 5 42. These results suggest that B. pentheri may comprise two species.Brachistosternus Pocock from Argentina were conducted. One species is from the subgenus Ministernus Francke 1985, B. ferrugineus Thorell 1876, and two species are from the subgenus Brachistosternus Pocock 1893, B. montanus Roig-Alsina 1977 (Andean species group), and morphologically different populations of B. pentheri Mello-Leita˜o 1931 (plains species group). All species showed achiasmatic meiosis, absence of heteromorphic bivalents, and bibrachial and monobrachial chromosomes of different sizes. Males of Brachistosternus ferrugineus, B. montanus, and one population of B. pentheri have 2n 5 46. Males of the typical populations of B. pentheri have 2n 5 42. These results suggest that B. pentheri may comprise two species.