Chromosome banding of two Litoria species (Anura, Hylidae)

Abstract

This research was the first cytogenetic studies of green-eyed tree frog (Litoria genimaculata) and Nyakala frog(L. nyakalensis). The mitotic chromosomes were prepared directly from bone marrow after in vivo colchicine treatment andanalysed following conventional, silver staining and C-banding techniques. These species showed similar karyotypes with2n=26, the fundamental number (NF) are 52 chromosomes and Ag-NOR positions located in the short arm near centromeresof chromosome pair 7 in L. genimaculata and in the long arm near telomeres of chromosome pair 9 in L. nyakalensis. TheC-banded karyotypes showed heterochromatin bands at the centromeres and telomeres of all chromosomes. Both specieswere characterized by the number and position of constitutive heterochromatin in the karyotypes. The mitotic karyotypes ofL. genimaculata exhibited greater amounts of C-band positive heterochromatin than L. nyakalensis.

Keywords

• standard karyotype
• Litoria
• Hylidae
• banding patterns