Occurrence of B chromosomes in Cyphocharax modestus (Fernández- Yépez, 1948) and Steindachnerina insculpta (Fernández- Yépez, 1948)(Characiformes, Curimatidae) from the Tibagi River basin (Paraná State, Brazil)

Abstract

We cytogenetically analyzed 18 individuals of Cyphocharax modestus, and 41 individuals of Steindachnerina insculpta from the Tibagi River basin (Paraná State, Brazil). All the specimens had 2n = 54 chromosomes, all meta-submetacentric (M-SM). The presence of 1 or 2 B chromosomes was seen in some individuals of C. modestus of the two sampled populations, showing inter- and intra individual variation. In S. insculpta, B chromosomes were also observed but only in one population, also showing inter- and intra individual variation. C-banding was used to show that the identified B chromosomes were totally heterochromatic in the two examined species.