Cytogenetic analysis in species of the Subfamily Glossophaginae (Phyllostomidae, Chiroptera) supports a polyphyletic origin

Abstract

In this work the karyotypes of 20 specimens of bats belonging to the subfamily Glossophaginae (Phyllostomidae-Chiroptera) were analyzed, species Glossophaga soricina (2n=32, FN=60), Lionycteris spurrelli (2n=28, FN=50), Lonchophylla thomasi (2n=36, FN=48) and Choeronicus minor (2n=20, FN=36), whose data were compared with each other and with data from the literature. The analyses were done using G, C, G/C sequential and NORs banding techniques and hybridization in situ with telomeric probes. Published data were also used for Artibeus lituratus (Stenodermatinae). The species G. soricina, L. spurrelli and L. thomasi presented few homeologies among themselves and none with C. minor; the latter has a pair of chromosomes shared with the species Artibeus lituratus (Stenodermatinae), indicating a possible convergent evolution in the subfamily Glossophaginae. Additionally, by comparing our results with those in the literature, interpopulational karyotypic variability was observed in the species L. thomasi. © 2003 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.