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Japanese Journal of Ichthyology 魚 類 学 雑誌 Vol.20,No.4.1973 20巻4号1973年

A Comparative Study of Chromosomes in the Teleostean Order

Teruya Uyeno (Received July 28,1972)

Abstract Karyological information on 8 genera in 5 families of the teleostean fish order

Osteoglossiformes are presented and compared.Among notopterids,Xenomystus nigri and Notopterus chitala have 42 acrocentric chromosomes in diploid number,whereas

Papyrocranus afer has 34 including 4 non•`acrocentrics.Two species of mormyrids,

Gnathonemus petersii and Marcusenius brachistius have 48 chromosomes.Diploid chromosome numbers of other species examined are Hiodon alosoides,50; Osteoglossum bicirrhosum,

56; Pantodon bucholzi,48.Some comments are made on interpretations of their karyotypes.

The osteoglossiformes,one of the most primi•` June 16,1970,by W.L.Pflieger,G.R.and tive and archaic teleostean fish orders,contain K.B.Smith,and T.Uyeno.Five specimens six families: Osteoglossidae,Pantodontidae, of Osteoglossum bicirrhosum Vandelli(54•`105 ,Gymnarchidae,Hiodontidae,and mm)and 7 specimens of Xenomystus nigri

Notopteridae(Gosline,1971).They are dis•` (Gunther)(111•`120 mm)and 3 specimens of tributed in Africa,the Indo•`Australian region, afer(Gunther)(about 50•`100 mm) and North and South America.Among these were donated by Mr.R.B.Socolof.Two families,the Pantodontidae and Gymnarchidae specimens of Notopterus chitala(Hamilton)(57 are monotypic,and Hiodontidae comprise two 58 mm),3 specimens of•` Pantodon buchholzi species in one .The most divergent Peters(55•`56 mm),1 specimen of Marcusenius family is the Mormyridae.Osteoglossiform brachistius Gill(82 mm)and 1 specimen of are mostly carnivorous and retain many Gnathonemus petersii(Gunther)(117 mm)were

primitive osteological features.Recent discus•` purchased from tropical fish stores in Ann sions on the relationships of this order,on the Arbor and Detroit,Michigan. basis of anatomical characters,are found in Mitotic coromosomes at metaphase were the reports by Greenwood et al.(1966),and obtained from gill epithelium by the method Nelson(1969;1972).The fossil record of this described by Beamish(1970)with some modifica•`

group goes back to the Jurassic period,for the tions.After the injection of 0.05 % Velban Asian family Lycopteridae is recently included (Lillie Co.,Ltd.),specimens were kept alive in this order(Greenwood,1970).Thus oste•` for 2 to 4 hours.Slides were made permanent oglossiform fishes have had a long evolutionary by the use of dry ice.Photographs of chromo•` history,The purpose of this report is to provide somes were taken with a Wild M 20 microscope chromosome information on representative at 1500•~magnification with 15•~ocular and

genera in each family of the Osteoglossigormes, 100•~phase contrast objective lenses,using excepting the Gymnarchidae which was un•` Polaroid type•`57(ASA 3000)film mounted on available and is often included in the Mormyridae. a Leitz "Aristophot".

Material and methods Results

In the following,the length in parentheses The family Osteoglossidae which are dis•` represents the standard length unless otherwise tributed in South America,Africa,Southeast stated.Six specimens of Hiodon alosoides Asia,and Australia)are represented in this

(Rafinesque)(20•`32 mm in total length)were study by 5 specimens of Osteoglossum bicirrhosum collected at the mouth of Terrepene Creek in from South America.One specimen died Missouri River,near Columbia,Missouri,on immediately after the injection and no good

211 魚類 学 雑 誌 Japan.J.Ichthyol.20(4).1973

Fig.1.Photomicrographs of somatic chromosomes at metaphase. XENO.Xenomystus nigri: MARC, Marcusenius brachistius:OSTE.Osteoglossum bicirrhosum: GNAT.Gnathonemtts petersii:PANT.Pantodon bucholzi:HIOD.Hiodon alosoides.

•\ 212•\ Uyeno:Chromosomes of the Osteoglossiformes

Fig.2.Photomicrographs of somatic chromosomes at metaphase.NOTO.iVotopterus chitala: PAPY,.

form a heteromorphic pair(Fig.4).The sex was indeterminable in 4 specimens because of the immature(attached yolk sac)state,but the largest specimen was female with ovary.At present,I am not able to state the nature of the heteromorphic pair. The family Pantodontidae which are dis- tributed in Africa is represented by two specimens of Pantodon bucholzi.Fifteen cells with chromosome figures were obtained.Among them 3 cells definitely had 48 chromosomes, but others were not clear enough to determine if they contained 46 or 48. The diploid number is probably 48.The karyotype includes 12 metacentric,12 submetacentric-subtelocentric, and 24 acrocentric chromosomes. The family Mormyridae which are distributed in Africa is represented by 2 genera in this study.Marcusenius brachistius has a diploid number of 48. Chromosome figures from 9 cells were obtained from a single specimen. The sex was indeterminable.The karyotype Fig.3.Photomicrograph of somatic chromosomes includes 1 metacentric,4 submetacentric, 2 at metaphase.Osteoglossum bicirrhosum, subtelocentric,and 41 acrocentric chromosomes. female. The single metacentric chromosome is somewhat smaller than the largest pair of chromosomes. cells were obtained from the individual.From The nature of this heteromorphic chromosome other 4 specimens,89 cells were observed.The is indeterminable at present. Gnat honema diploid number is 56.The female karyotype petersii has 48 chromosomes in diploid. Eight includes 1 submetacentric,1 subteleocentric, cells from a specimen were observed.The and 54 acrocentric chromosomes.The sub- karyotype includes 10 metacentric,6 sub- metacentric and subtelocentric chromosomes metacentric,and 32 acrocentric chromosomes.

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Osteoglossum

Pantodon

Marcusenius

Gnathonema

Hiodon

Fig.4.Karyotypes of osteoglossiform fishes.From top to bottom:Osteoglossum bicirrhosum, Pantodon bucholzi,Marcusenius brachistius, Gnathonemus petersii,Hiodon alosoides.

The family Hiodontidae which are distributed includes 40 metacentrics and submetacentrics,. in North America is represented here by Hiodon and 10 subtelocentrics. alosoides.Among 7 specimens used,4 specimens The family with 3 genera and produced 29 cells with chromosome figures. 6 species are distributed in Africa and South- The diploid number is 50.The karyotype east Asia,Among 7 specimens of Xenomystus

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Notopterus

Xenomystus

Papyrocranus

Fig.5.Karyotypes of 3 genera of notopterid fishes.From top to bottom: Notopterus chitala,Xenomystus nigri,and Papyrocranus afer. nigri from Africa,4 specimens produced 44 acrocentrics,and Pantodon has at least 50% cells with chromosome figures.The diploid non-acrocentrics. number is 42.The karyotype includes 42 2)Though karyotypes of Osteoglossum, acrocentric chromosomes in a graded series of Pantodon,Xenomystus,and Notopterus include sizes.Three specimens of Papyrocranus afer some relatively small chromosomes,there are from Africa were used,and 7 good cells were no dot-like"microchromosomes"found in observed.The diploid number is 34.The karyotypes of a chondrostean Scaphirhynchus karyotype included 4 submetacentrics and 30 platorhynchus,holosteans Lepisosteus productus acrocentrics in a graded series.Notopterus (Ohno and others,1969),and Lepisosteus chitala which is distributed in Southeast Asia platostomus(unpublished data). and India has the diploid number of 42.The 3)On the basis of anatomical characters, karyotype includes 42 acrocentric chromosomes Greenwood(1963)considered that Xenomystus is in a graded series, as in Xenomystus.This significantly different from the genera Notopterus observation contradicts with the counts of and Papyrocranus,and placed it in a monotypic chromosomes in Notopterus chitala in India by subfamily Xenomystinae.Nelson(1969),how- Nayyar(1965)who reported the chromosome ever,stated that the African notopterids are number of the species as 48. more closely related to one another than to any of the Asian species,and placed Papyrocranus Discussion in the subfamily Xenomystinae.In the case On the basis of chromosome examinations, of karyotypes,however,Xenomystus nigri and the following comments can be made. Notopterus chitala are similar in having 42 1)The most frequent form of the chromo- acrocentrics,but Papyrocranus afer differs from some in karyotypes of osteoglossiform fishes is them in having only 34 chromosomes including .acrocentrics.Hiodon is an exception having no 4 non-acrocentrics.

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4)If the osteoglossiformes are monophyletic order Osteoglossiformes has the oldest fossil group,as suggested by recent investigators record among Recent teleostean orders(Andrews (Greenwood et al.,1966;Gosline,1960;Nelson, et al.,1967).The absence of microchromosomes 1969), their karyotypes must have originated in the species of the Osteoglossiformes and in from a common,ancestral number.There teleostean fishes in gneneral might indicate that seems 3 alternatives in the direction of changes the crossing of the line between Holostei and in chromosome numbers:a)from a higher Teleostei was made by a group which did not number such as 56 in Osteoglossum to a lower possess microchromosomes in their karyotype. number such as 34 in Papyrocranus by means of fusion and deletion;b) from lower number Acknowledgments to higher number by means of fission and My thanks are due to Dr.Robert Rush Miller aneuploidy;or c)from a certain intermediate of the University of Michigan,Museum of number to both directions.In the case of the Zoology,who gave me all possible assistance third alternative(c),48 might be the most and encouragement throughout this study.I probable basic number because of the wide am also grateful to Mr.Ross B.Socolof,Ross distribution not only among karyotypes of the Socolof Farms,Inc.,in Florida for providing Osteoglossiformes,but also in karyotypes of me with live specimens of Osteoglossum, teleostean groups in general(Post,1965). Xenomystus and Papyrocranus.Dr.William L. Karyotypes of the osteoglossiform fishes are Pflieger of Fisheries Research Laboratory, certainly diverse,and differences in chromosome Missouri Department of Conservation and Dr. numbers are not explainable by simple Gerald R.Smith of the University of Michigan, Robertsonian rearrangements as in the case of Museumof Zoology,who helpedme in collect- the Cyprinodontidae in North America(Chen, ing specimens of Hiodon.Dr. Reeve M.Bailey 1969)and Goodeidae(Miller and Fitzsimmons, of the University of Michigan,Museum of 1971;Uyeno and Miller,1972). Zoology,identified species of mormyrid fishes. 5)Recently the comparative study of karyo- Mrs.Elizabeth A.Strauch assisted in the search types among closely related cyprinids in the of slides for chromosome examination.Drs. Colorado River indicated that chromosomal John B.Burch and Charlotte M.Patterson of differences are correlated to morphological the University of Michigan,Museum of Zoology, specialization(Uyeno and Miller,in press).But gave me valuable suggestions.To all of these interpretations of karyotypic differences in fishes people I express my sincere appreciation. are still at the stage of infancy,and difficult Financial support from the National Science to ascertain especially at the higher taxonomic Foundation made possible the completion of level.The data presented here probably neither this work:GB-4854 x,GB-6272 x,and GB- oppose nor support the idea of the monophyletic 14871,to Dr.Robert Rush Miller,and GB-8212, origin of the order Osteoglossiformes in recent to the University of Michigan,Museum of classifications.But the diversity in their karyo- Zoology(Dr.N.G.Hairston)for Research in types seem to indicate their ancient origin,if Systematics and Evolutionary Biology. the group is monophyletic. 6)On the basis of paleontological evidence, Literature cited Patterson(1967)stated that in the evolutionary Andrews, S. M., B. G. Gardiner, R. S. Miles, and history of crossing the line between the C. Patterson. 1967. Pisces. In The fossil record. halecostomes(Holostei)and the teleosts was A symposium with documentation. Geol. Soc. "on a narrow front London, 637•`683 pp., figs. 1•`6. ,the most likely candidates Beamish, R. 1970. Factors affecting the age and being the leptolepids,the lycopterids and the size of the white sucker Catostomus commersoni elopids".Recently Greenwood(1970)concluded at maturity. Ph. D. dissertation, Dept. Zool., that the Mesozoic genus and members Univ. Toronto, 170 pp., many figs. of the family Hiodontidae are closely related, Chen, T. R. 1971. A comparative chromosome and proposed to place the family Lycopteridae study of twenty killifish species of the genus in the superfamily Hiodontoidea of the order Fundulus (Teleostei: Cyprinodontidae). Chromo- Osteoglossiformes.If this action is correct,the soma, 32: 436•`453, figs. 1•`19.

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Gosline, W. A. 1960. Contribution toward a chromosomes in holocephalian, chondrostean,

classification of modern isospondylous fishes. Bull. and holostean fishes. Chromosoma, 26: 35•`40 . British Mus. (Nat. Hist.), Zool., 6: 325•`369, figs. Patterson, C. 1967. Are the teleosts a polyphyletic

1•`15. group? Colloques Int. Cent. Natn. Rech. Scient., Gosline, W. A. 1971. Functional morphology and Paris, 163: 93•`109, figs. 1•`11. classification of fishes. Univ. Press Hawaii, 208 pp., Post, Von A. 1965. Vergleichende Untersuchungen

29 figs. der Chromosomenzahlen bei Susswasser-Teleo- Greenwood, P.H. 1963. The swimbladder in African steern. Zeit. Zool. System. Evolutionforschung.

Notopteridae (Pisces) and its bearing on the Bd. 3: 47•`93, figs. 1•`5.

of the family. Bull. Brit. Mus. (Nat. Uyeno, T. and R. R. Miller. 1971. Second dis- Hist.), Zoology, 11 (5): 379•`412, figs. 1•`5, pls. covery of multiple sex chromosomes among fishes.

1•`4. Experientia, 28: 223•`225, figs. 1•`4.

Greenwood, P. H. 1970. On the genus Lycoptera Uyeno, T., and R. R. Miller. (in press). Chromo- and its relationship with the family Hiodontidae somes and the evolution of the plagopterin fishes

(Pisces, ). Bull. British Mus. (family Cyprinidae) of the Colorado River system. (Nat. Hist. ), 19 (8): 257•`285, figs. 1•`10. Copeia. Greenwood, P.H., D. E. Rosen, S. H. Weitzman,

and G. S. Myers. 1966. Phyletic studies of (Nippon Luther Shingaku Daigaku, 3-10-20 Osawa, teleostean fishes, with a provisional classification Mitaka-shi, Tokyo, 181, Japan) of living forms. Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., 131: 339•`456, figs. 1•`9, pls. 21•`23, charts 1•`32. オステオグロッスム目魚類の染色体の比較研究 Miller, R. R., and J. M. Fitzsimons. 1971. Ameca 上野 輝弥 splendens, a new genus and species of goodeid オ ス テ オ グ ロ ッ ス ム 目 は 地 史 的 に 現 生 の 真 骨 魚 類 中 fish from western Mexico, with remarks on the 最 古 の 記 録 を も つ 一 群 で,主 と し て 熱 帯 地 方 の 淡 水 に classification of Goodeidae. Copeia, 1971 (1): 1 分 布 し て い る が,最 近 そ の 系 統 ・類 縁 関 係 が 少 し ず っ 13, figs. 1•`6. •` 明 ら か に さ れ て き た.併 し 染 色 体 に 関 す る 詳 し い 資 料 Nayyar, R. P.1965. Karyotype studies in the genus は ほ と ん ど な い.こ の 度 オ ス テ オ グ ロ ッ ス ム 目の5科 Notopterus (Lacepede). The occurrence and fate 8属8種 の 染 色 体 を 調 査 し た の で こ こ に 報 告 す る.ノ of univalent chromosomes in spermatocytes of ト プ テ ル ス 科 のXenomystus nigriとNotopterus N. chitala. Genetica, 36: 398•`405, fig. 1. chitalaは2n=42で 染 色 体 は 全 て 端 部 着 糸 型 で あ る が, Nelson, G. J. 1969. Infraorbital bones and their Papyrocranus aferは34で4個 の 中 部 ま た は 次 中 部 bearing on the phylogeny and geography of 着 糸 型 を 含 む.モ ル ミ ル ス 科 のGnathonemus petersii osteoglossomorph fishes. American Mus. Novitates, とMarcusenius brachistiusは48で あ る.そ の 外 の 2394: 1•`37, figs. 1•`22. 種 の 染 色 体 数 はHiodon alosoidesが50,Osteoglossum Nelson, G. J. 1972. Observations on the gut of bicirrhosumが56,Pantodon bucholziが48で あ っ the Osteoglossomorpha. Copeia, 1972 (2): 325 た.こ れ ら の 魚 類 の 核 型 と 分 布,古 生 物 学 的 資 料 な ど 329, figs. 1•`5. •` に 関 し て 若 干 の 考 察 を 行 な っ た.

Ohno, S., J. Muramoto, C. Stenius, L. Christian, W. A. Kirtell, and N. B. Atkins. 1969. Micro- (181東 京 都 三 鷹 市 大 沢 日本 ル ー テ ル 神 学 大 学)

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