Acta Biológica Colombiana (Jan 2005)
Cytogenetic characterization of the Savannah Sideneck Turtle Podocnemis vogli (Reptilia: Testudinata: Podocnemididae)
Abstract
Seven specimens of Podocnemis vogli were studied; three were collected at Puerto López and Puerto Gaitán in the Meta Department of Colombia, four lacks collecting data. All specimens presented a complement consisting of 28 chromosomes without sexual chromosomes. The first group was composed by four submetacentric pairs and one subtelocentric, the second group by six metacentric pairs and the third group by three acrocentric pairs, differing from the previous description by Rhodin et al. (1978) who found two acrocentric pairs. C, G, NOR and Q band patterns are described for the species. Nucleolar Organizer Regions were localized in the first chromosome pair in an intercalary band inserted in the short arms which could be visualized in interphase as one or two nucleoli. The C band technique allowed heterochromatic regions to be located in chromosomes associated with pericentromeric regions. Some heterochromatic polymorphisms (intercalary bands) were identified in chromosomes 1, 2, 3 and 7, leading to the supposition that there are chromosome markers which could be associated with different P. vogli populations within their geographic distribution.
