Meiotic behavior of two polyploid species of genus Pleurodema (Anura: Leiuperidae) from central Argentina

SALAS, NANCY E.; VALETTI, JULIÁN A.; GRENAT, PABLO R.; OTERO, MANUEL A.; MARTINO, ADOLFO L.

ACTA HERPETOLOGICA

FIRENZE UNIV PRESS

Año: 2014 vol. 9 p. 109 - 113

1827-9635

Polyploidy is an important evolutionary force but rare in vertebrates. However, in anurans, the genus Pleurodemahas polyploid species, two of them tetraploid and one octoploid. The manner inwhich the chromosomesjoin in diakinesis can vary among species and, crucially, if they differ in their ploidy levels. In this work, we describe the meiotic configurations in two cryptic species from central Argentina, with different ploidy levels, Pleurodema kriegi (tetraploid) and P. cordobae (octoploid). A total of 306 diakineses from 19 individuals were analyzed. In meiosis, P. kriegi form 22 bivalents, whereas P. cordobae exhibits variation in meiotic figures. We discuss the possible allo- and autopolyploid origin of these species, and we consider that the autopolyploid origin of P. cordobae from P. kriegi might be the most feasible.