The Karyology ofHemisus Marmoratus(Amphibia, Salientia)

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The karyotype of Hemisus marmoratus, an Anuran Amphibian of debated taxonomic position, consists of 24 chromosomes, with 6 pairs of large chromosomes (of which those of the 1st, 4th and 5th pairs are metacentric, those of the 2nd and 3rd pairs are submetacentric and those of the 6th pair are subtelocentric) and 6 pairs of smaller chromosomes, all metacentric, except those of the 12th pair, which are submetacentric. Comparing the karyotype of Hemisus with that of species having the same chromosome number and belonging to the families which, according to the systematists, have the closest affinities with genus (Microhylidae, Hyperoliidae and Ranidae), considerable similarities may be noted between Hemisus and all the other species examined. The existence of such marked karyological similarities between Hemisus and species of the three families considered suggests a real phyletic affinity between all these forms.