Morphological and Genetic Characterization of Saimiri boliviensis

STEINBERG, ELIANA R.; NIEVES, MARIELA; ASCUNCE, MARINA S.; PALERMO, ANA M.; MUDRY, MARTA D.

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PRIMATOLOGY

SPRINGER/PLENUM PUBLISHERS

Año: 2009 vol. 30 p. 29 - 41

0164-0291

The taxonomy of Saimiri is controversial because morphologicalcharacteristics, traditionally used for identification, are insufficient to distinguishspecies and subspecies. Genetic studies of specimens become relevant for captivemanagement, especially considering their frequently unknown geographical origin.We analyzed phenotypic and genetic parameters in Saimiri spp. in Argentineanzoological gardens and biological stations to provide a more accurate taxonomicidentification. We studied 27 males and 19 females of Saimiri spp. The cytogeneticanalysis in mitotic metaphases corroborated a modal number of 2N=44, XX/XY, andFN=75 for males and FN=76 for females. G- and C-bands, fluorescence in situhybridization (FISH) and the pelage coloration pattern of all the specimenscorresponded to Saimiri boliviensis boliviensis. We characterized for the first timethe sperm cell morphology and morphometry (mean±SE): total length: 71.39±5.40 μm; head length: 5.71±0.81 μm; head width: 3.76±0.70 μm; acrosome length:3.70±0.82 μm; midpiece length: 12.20±2.22 μm. Researchers can use thecharacterization of the sperm morphology as another parameter for taxonomicidentification that, together with cytogenetic and molecular ones, would allow amore precise identification of individual Saimiri boliviensis boliviensis.