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Article

Chromosome Diversity and Evolution of the Endemic Malagasy Velvet Geckos of the Genus Blaesodactylus (Reptilia, Gekkonidae)

by
Marcello Mezzasalma
1,*,
Elvira Brunelli
1,*,
Gaetano Odierna
2 and
Fabio Maria Guarino
2
1
Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Science, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci 4/B, 87036 Rende, Italy
2
Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cinthia 26, 80126 Naples, Italy
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Animals 2023, 13(13), 2068; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13132068
Submission received: 24 May 2023 / Revised: 15 June 2023 / Accepted: 20 June 2023 / Published: 22 June 2023
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Diversity, Conservation, and Taxonomy of Madagascar’s Amphibians and Reptiles - Feature Issue of the Section Herpetology)
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Abstract

:

Simple Summary

We implemented a molecular and phylogenetic analysis and a comparative karyological investigation with standard and chromosome banding methods on different taxa of the endemic Malagasy velvet geckos of the genus Blaesodactylus. We present the description of the karyotype of three different taxa and a characterization of the chromosomal diversity in the genus. We show the occurrence of karyological variability in the genus Blaesodactylus in terms of chromosome number (2n = 40–42), morphology, chromosome position of loci of NORs, and distribution pattern of heterochromatin. Considering our results together with the available information on evolutionary related gecko species, we hypothesize that the karyotype evolution in Blaesodactylus mostly involved a decrease in the total number of chromosomes and the formation of biarmed elements. We also highlight that similar pathways of chromosomal rearrangements have been previously observed in other geckos, possibly representing a convergent karyotype evolution.

Abstract

We performed a molecular and phylogenetic analysis and a comparative cytogenetic study with standard karyotyping, silver staining (Ag-NOR) and sequential C-banding + Giemsa, + fluorochromes on several Blaesodactylus samples. The phylogenetic inference retrieved two main clades, the first comprises B. victori, B. microtuberculatus and B. boivini, while the second includes B. sakalava, B. antongilensis and B. ambonihazo. The available samples of B. sakalava form two different clades (here named B. sakalava clade A and clade B), which probably deserve a taxonomic re-evaluation. We found a karyological variability in Blaesodactylus in terms of chromosome number (2n = 40–42), morphology, location of NORs, and heterochromatin distribution pattern. Blaesodactylus antongilensis and B. sakalava clade A and B showed a karyotype of 2n = 40 mostly telocentric chromosomes. Pairs 1 and 6 were metacentric in B. sakalava clade A and B, while pair 1 was composed of subtelocentric/submetacentric elements in B. antongilensis. In contrast, B. boivini displayed a karyotype with 2n = 42 only telocentric chromosomes. NORs were on the first chromosome pair in B. boivini, and on the second pair in B. antongilensis. Adding our data to those available from the literature on evolutionarily related species, we highlight that the chromosome diversification in the genus probably proceeded towards a progressive reduction in the chromosome number and the formation of metacentric elements.

1. Introduction

Madagascar is well-known for its extraordinary biodiversity and remarkable degree of endemism and represents a unique model region for evolutionary studies [1,2,3]. The terrestrial reptile fauna of the island includes more than 450 endemic species of squamates belonging to six families of snakes (Boidae, Elapidae, Psammophiidae, Pseudoxyrhophiidae, Typhlopidae, Xenotyphlopidae) and six families of lizard (Agamidae, Chamaeleonidae, Gekkonidae, Gerrhosauridae, Opluridae, and Scincidae) [4,5]. Among them, the Malagasy Gekkonidae include eleven different genera (Blaesodactylus, Ebenavia, Geckolepis, Gehyra, Hemidactylus, Lygodactylus, Matoatoa, Paragehyra, Paroedura, Phelsuma and Uroplatus) and more than 140 currently described species [5]. Nevertheless, although there has been significant progress achieved in the last few decades, the diversity of Malagasy reptiles is still relatively poorly known, with several new species discovered every year [4,5]. Even if recent research began to better describe the taxonomy and the evolutionary relationships of several different groups, only a small fraction of Malagasy reptile species has been analyzed with cytogenetic methods, despite increasing evidence that their diversity is reflected at the karyotypic level (see e.g., [6,7,8,9]). In fact, karyotype changes may either precede or follow molecular evolution, directly promoting cladogenesis or deriving from phylogenetic divergence [10,11]. In either circumstance, different karyological characteristics (e.g., different ploidy, total haploid number of chromosomes, chromosome morphology, presence or absence of differentiated sex chromosomes and occurrence and localization of particular DNA sequences) represent discrete cytogenetic markers which are helpful to describe different evolutionary trends or apomorphisms (see e.g., [12,13,14]).
Furthermore, squamates reptiles represent emergent model organisms in evolutionary cytogenetics as they are characterized by a high variability in chromosome number (from 2n = 16 to 2n = 62) and morphology and by the evolution of simple (XY, ZW) and multiple sex chromosome systems (X1X2Y and Z1Z2W) with either male or female heterogamety (see e.g., [15]). Two different general karyotype organizations have been described in squamates as “asymmetrical” (with macro- and microchromosomes) and “symmetrical” (with chromosomes that gradually decrease in length). Asymmetrical karyotypes are common in Iguania, many Scincomorpha and Platynota, while symmetrical karyotypes are often found in Lacertidae and Gekkota (see e.g., [15]).
The genus Blaesodactylus currently includes six described species (B. ambonihazo, B. antongilensis, B. boivini, B. victori, B. microtuberculatus and B. sakalava), which have been recently studied with morphological and molecular methods [16,17,18,19]. In contrast, chromosome analyses have been performed so far only on samples ascribed to B. boivini based on morphological characters [20], leaving the karyological variability of the genus completely unexplored. Concerning B. boivini, Chrostek et al. [20] analyzed one male and one female sample of the species and described a karyotype composed of 2n = 42, with only telocentric chromosomes which gradually decrease in length. Blocks of heterochromatin were identified on the centromeres of the six largest chromosome pairs and both sexes showed the same chromosome complement, without any evident heteromorphic sex chromosome pair. NORs were identified on the centromeric region of the first chromosome pair and telomeric repeats were localized at the centromeres of all chromosome pairs as well as at interstitial positions of several pairs [20].
In this paper we performed a preliminary molecular and phylogenetic analysis, using a segment of the mitochondrial ND4, and a comparative cytogenetic study with standard karyotyping, Ag-NOR staining and sequential C-banding on different Blaesodactylus samples from distinct Malagasy areas. We provide the first karyotype description of different taxa of the genus and a characterization of their chromosomal diversity. We show that chromosome variability in terms of total chromosome number, number of uni- and biarmed chromosomes and a different localization of chromosomal markers (NORs loci and heterochromatic regions) characterizes the studied taxa of the genus Blaesodactylus.
Finally, adding our newly generated karyotype data to those already available from the literature on evolutionarily closely related species and genera, we advance a hypothesis on the chromosome diversification in different genera of the family Gekkonidae.

2. Material and Methods

2.1. Sampling

We studied ten specimens of three species of Malagasy geckos of the genus Blaesodactylus. The taxonomic attribution after the molecular analysis (see below), field number, sex, and origin of all the samples analyzed in this study are provided in Table 1. All the specimens used in the molecular and cytogenetic analyses (Table 1) were collected between 1997–2002 for other research purposes and no animal was sampled during the realization of this study. After capture, animals were injected with a 0.5 mg/mL colchicine solution (0.1 mL/10 g body weight). Tissue samples (intestine, spleen and gonads) were incubated for 30 min in hypotonic solution (KCl 0.075 M + sodium citrate 0.5%, 1:1), fixed and conserved in Carnoy’s buffer solution (methanol and acetic acid, 3:1). The fixed material was then preserved at 4 °C and transferred to the laboratory of University of Naples Federico II where it was processed as described below.

2.2. Molecular and Phylogenetic Analysis

A molecular and phylogenetic analysis was performed to ascertain the taxonomic status and the phylogenetic position of all the samples studied and to associate DNA sequences to the newly described karyotypes. The molecular analysis was performed using a fragment of the mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase subunit 4 (ND4), which has been previously used in phylogenetic inferences in the genus Blaesodactylus [16,17,19,21]. Total genomic DNA was extracted following Sambrook et al. [22] and PCR amplification of the chosen ND4 fragment was performed according to Bauer et al. [17]. Amplicons were sequenced on an automated sequencer ABI 377 (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA, USA) using BigDye Terminator 3.1 (ABI). Chromatograms were checked and manually edited using Chromas Lite 2.6.6 and BioEdit 7.2.6.1 [23] and compared with available homologous traits deposited in GenBank. All the newly determined sequences were deposited in GenBank (accession numbers: OR113357-OR113363). A phylogenetic analysis using the newly determined ND4 sequences along with the homologous traits presented by Ineich et al. [19] (accession numbers: KX101035-KX101047, including those of the samples FGMV 2029, FGMV 2030 and FGMV 2032, here used in the cytogenetic analysis) was performed using MrBayes 3.2 [24]. The best fitting substitution model was selected using jModeltest 2.1.7 under the corrected Akaike information criterion (AICc) [25]. We run two independent Monte Carlo Markov Chains (MCMC) for 8,000,000 generations, sampling the chains every 1000 generations and discarding the first 25% of the trees sampled as burn-in. We used as the outgroup the homologous ND4 trait of Geckolepis maculata (accession number JQ974269).

2.3. Cytogenetic Analysis

Chromosomes were obtained from preserved tissue samples and cell suspensions using the air-drying method, as described in Mezzasalma et al. [9]. The chromosome analysis was performed with standard karyotyping (5% Giemsa solution at pH 7 for 10 min) and different chromosome staining and banding methods. C-banding was performed following Sumner [26], and sequential C-banding + CMA3 + DAPI according to Mezzasalma et al. [27]. Active nucleolus organizing regions (NORs) were identified following the Ag-NOR staining method described by Howell and Black [28]. Metaphase plates were scored and recorded with an optical and an epifluorescence microscope (Axioscope Zeiss) equipped with an image analysis system. Karyotype reconstruction and calculation of chromosome relative length (RL = length of a chromosome/total karyotype length) (see Table 2) were performed after scoring at least ten metaphase plates per sample. Chromosomes were classified following Levan et al. [29] in metacentric (m), submetacentric (sm), subtelocentric (st) and telocentric (t).

3. Results

3.1. Molecular and Phylogenetic Analysis

The phylogenetic analysis with the selected ND4 segment retrieved seven species-level lineages in Blaesodactylus (Figure 1). Six of these lineages correspond to the currently described species of the genus (B. victorii, B. microtuberculatus, B. boivini, B. sakalava, B. ambonihazo and B. antongilensis) (Figure 1). In addition, the available sequences of B. sakalava were divided into two distinct molecular clades here named B. sakalava clade A and B. sakalava clade B (Figure 1).
The phylogenetic relationships reported in our tree show that the seven species-level lineages are comprised of two different main clades: the first includes B. victorii, B. microtuberculatus and B. boivini, while the second comprises B. sakalava clade A and B, B. ambonihazo and B. antongilensis (Figure 1). In the first clade, B. victorii is the sister group of a clade composed of B. microtuberculatus and B. boivini (Figure 1). In the second clade, the specimens of B. sakalava were grouped into two different clades, together representing the sister group of the clade composed by B. ambonihazo and B. antongilensis (Figure 1).

3.2. Cytogenetic Analysis

Blaesodactylus sakalava and B. antongilensis had a karyotype of 2n = 40, mostly composed of telocentric chromosomes (Figure 2; Table 2). However, the elements of pairs 1 and 6, were metacentric in either B. sakalava clade A or B. sakalava clade B. In contrast, in B. antongilensis, the centromeric index (CI) of pair 1 (25.0%) corresponded to the transition value between a subtelocentric and a submetacentric element (Figure 2; Table 2) [29] .
Blaesodactylus boivini showed a karyotype of 2n = 42, composed of all telocentric chromosomes which gradually decrease in length (Figure 2D, Table 2).
Given the quantity and quality of metaphase plates, Ag-NOR staining and sequential C-banding + fluorochromes were successfully performed only on samples of B. boivini and B. antongilensis. Loci of NORs were close to the centromeres of the chromosome of pair 2 in B. antongilensis and to the centromeres of the elements of pair 1 in B. boivini (FGMV 3010) (Figure 2C,D).
In both B. boivini and B. antongilensis, heterochromatic blocks were mostly localized on the centromeres of several chromosome pairs and were clearly evident after C-banding + Giemsa (Figure 3). In B. boivini, the main heterochromatic blocks were positive with either CMA3 or DAPI, while in B. antongilensis they were more visible with CMA3 (Figure 3).

4. Discussion

4.1. Molecular Analysis

The molecular and phylogenetic analysis using the selected ND4 segment allowed us to unambiguously assign all the studied samples to different Blaesodactylus genetic lineages as reported in Table 1 (see Figure 1). Our phylogenetic analysis using Bayesian inference showed similar evolutionary relationships and posterior support values to those previously reported by Ineich et al. [19]. All the currently recognized Blaesodactylus species show a relatively deep intraspecific mitochondrial genetic divergence (13–16% of ND4 uncorrected p-distance). We also highlight that the two distinct genetic clades found in B. sakalava (here named B. sakalava clade A and B) probably correspond to species-level lineages as their genetic distance is similar to that found between other Blaesodactylus sister species (see Figure 1) (see also [19]). This is not surprising, considering that different new Blaesodactylus species have been described in the last years and recent studies highlighted that the species diversity of the genus is probably still underestimated [18,19]. We also highlight that the DNA sequences of two different species of Blaesodactylus (B. microtuberculatus and B. victorii) are currently available from a single specimen, respectively, from the Ankarana National Park (north Madagascar) and the Tsingy limestone outcrops in the Namoroka National Park (northwestern Madagascar) (see [18,19]). In addition, most of the species-level lineages in Blaesodactylus appear to be allopatric, but B. microtuberculatus is sympatric with B. boivini and B. victori is sympatric with B. sakalava [18,19]. Further molecular analyses using a combination of mitochondrial and nuclear markers and a wide sampling across different Malagasy ecoregions are probably needed to better assess the molecular and species diversity in the genus Blaesodactylus.

4.2. Cytogenetic Analysis

In this study we performed the first comparative cytogenetic study on Blaesodactylus, providing the karyotype description of three different clades of this endemic Malagasy genus (B. sakalava clade A and B and B. antongilensis) and re-description of the karyotype of B. boivini (see also [20]). This contribution represents the first step in describing the karyological variability occurring in the genus Blaesodactylus, as well as a new contribution to reconstruct chromosomal evolutionary dynamics in a larger clade of the family Gekkonidae, which also includes the genera Homopholis and Geckolepis (Figure 1) (see also [19]).
Our chromosome analysis showed the occurrence of karyological variability between different studied species in terms of chromosome number (2n = 40–42), morphology, chromosome localization of loci of NORs, and pattern of heterochromatin. In particular, B. sakalava clade A and B and B. antongilensis showed a similar karyotype structure (with 2n = 40 and the occurrence of biarmed elements), with differences concerning the morphology of pairs 1 and 6. On the other hand, a different chromosome number (2n = 42) with only telocentric chromosomes was shown by B. boivini, as recently reported also by Chrostek et al. [20].
To advance a comparative hypothesis on the karyotype diversification in Blaesodactylus we superimposed all the currently available haploid karyograms of the genus, as well as those of the closely related genera Homopholis and Geckolepis [7,30,31], on their phylogenetic relationships ([32], this study). In particular, chromosome data are currently available for G. typica [7], H. fasciata and H. walbergii [20,30,31] (Figure 4). Notably, G. typica displays a karyotype structure similar to those of B. sakalava and B. antongilensis (2n = 40 and the occurrence of biarmed elements), while H. fasciata and H. walbergii present a lower chromosome number (2n = 36) [7,20,30,31] (Figure 4).
Among the family Gekkonidae, chromosome evolution has been hypothesized to have occurred either by an increase (as for example in the genus Hemidactylus) (see [33]) or by a reduction in the total chromosome number (e.g., in Diplodactylinae) [34,35].
In the case of Blaesodactylus, the most parsimonious chromosomal evolutionary scenario (including the lowest possible number of chromosome changes in order to generate all the different observed karyotypes) is to consider a karyotype composed of 2n = 42 and all telocentric chromosomes as the ancestral condition in the genus (Figure 4). In addition, a higher total chromosome number and a higher number of telocentric elements are generally considered ancestral karyotype characters in squamates (see e.g., [15]).
Our results show that a karyotype similar to the putative ancestral condition in Blaesodactylus (of 2n = 42) has probably been conserved in B. boivini, while different centric fusions likely occurred in B. sakalava clade A and B, reducing the total chromosome number to 2n = 40 and shaping the first and sixth chromosome pairs as metacentric. In B. antongilensis, a pericentromeric inversion (or, alternatively, a centromere repositioning) [36] likely shaped the first chromosome pair as a submeta-/subtelocentric chromosome (Figure 4). Similarly, in the clade including Geckolepis and Homopholis two centric fusions probably occurred in their common ancestor, producing a reduction in the total chromosome number (from 2n = 42 to 2n = 40) and the formation of two metacentric pairs (Figure 4). Geckolepis typica conserved a karyotype composed of 2n = 40 chromosomes, but three inversions produced an increase in biarmed elements (pairs 3, 5 and 8) (Figure 4). Two additional centric fusions occurred in Homopholis reducing the chromosome number to 2n = 36 and producing two additional biarmed chromosome pairs (pairs 2 and 8) (2n = 36; FN = 44). During the chromosomal diversification of this genus, H. walbergii conserved the primitive Homopholis karyotype, while two inversions occurred in H. fasciata (2n = 36; FN = 40) (Figure 4). Other than the hypothesized chromosome inversion, it is also possible that centromere repositioning has been involved in generating the chromosomal variability currently observable in Geckolepis and Homopholis.
Similar examples of a reduction in the total chromosome number and of a progressive formation of biarmed elements have been observed in different gecko genera, including Uroplatus, Lygodactylus, Matoatoa, Paroedura and Christinus [9,37,38,39,40]. In particular, all these different gecko genera show a karyotype composed of 2n = 34–42 mostly telocentric chromosomes and are characterized by the progressive appearance of biarmed elements by means of chromosome fusions in karyotypes with a reduced chromosome number and/or the translocation of small NOR-bearing chromosomes on larger chromosomes.
The repeated observation in different gecko groups of similar, independent instances of reduction in the total chromosome number by means of chromosome fusions and inversions suggests the possible occurrence of a convergent karyotype evolution.
Concerning the chromosome localization of NORs, they are close to the centromeres of the chromosomes of the first pair in B. boivini (see also [20]). Probably, this configuration is also conserved in B. sakalava clade A. In fact, this clade shows NORs on the second (telocentric) pair, but its first (metacentric) pair likely derived from the centric fusion of smaller telocentric chromosomes. In G. typica, NORs are close to the centromeres of the chromosomes of pair 10, but considering the lack of information on Homopholis, as well as on other Geckolepis species, additional data are needed to advance any hypothesis on NOR diversification.
Analysis with C-banding did not reveal the presence of differentiated sex chromosomes in either B. boivini or B. sakalava clade A. Nevertheless, we cannot exclude the possible presence of mostly pseudoautosomal sex chromosomes at an early stage of differentiation, which are known to occur in different groups of geckos (e.g., [9,15,39,41,42]). Alternatively, it is also possible that the sex is determined by environmental factors in the genus Blaesodactylus (e.g., temperature-dependent sex determination) as it has been previously documented in several gecko species (see [15]). Future research should employ a combination of molecular and cytogenetic methods to uncover the mechanism of sex determination in this group of geckos. Overall, C-banding + Giemsa produced similar results in B. boivini and B. antongilensis, evidencing a relatively low content of heterochromatin which is mostly localized at the centromeric regions of several chromosome pairs and particularly evident on the largest pairs (see Figure 3). This result was expected considering that a low content of heterochromatin generally characterizes the genome of squamate reptiles and is asymmetrically abundant on fully differentiated sex chromosome pairs (e.g., [15,43]). The differences between B. boivini and B. antontongilensis concerning the results obtained with C-banding + CMA3 and C-banding + DAPI (which highlight CG- and AT-rich regions, respectively) suggest that a different nucleotide composition might characterize the repeated DNA content of the two species.

5. Conclusions

We performed a molecular analysis and a comparative cytogenetic study on four taxa of Blaesodactylus, presenting the first karyotype description of three of them. We show the occurrence of karyological variability in the genus concerning the total chromosome number (2n = 40–42), chromosome morphology, the karyotype localization of loci of NORs, and pattern of heterochromatin.
Our findings allowed us to hypothesize that the chromosomal diversification in the genus involved a reduction in the chromosome number and the progressive formation of biarmed chromosomes by means of fusions and inversions (or centromere repositioning). Following this hypothesis, the ancestral karyotype condition in Blaesodactylus is 2n = 42, similar to that shown by B. boivini, while apomorphic conditions of 2n = 40 with the formation of different biarmed chromosome pairs were observed in B. sakalava and B. antongilensis. Comparing our data to those available from the literature, we suggest that comparable chromosome rearrangements might also have characterized the karyotype evolution of the closely related Geckolepis and Homopholis. We also highlight that a similar pattern of chromosome diversification has already been observed in other gecko genera (e.g., Paroedura, Lygodactylus, Matoatoa, and Uroplatus), possibly representing independent events of convergent karyotype evolution.
This contribution confirms that chromosome changes often characterize the evolution and diversification of independent lineages of Malagasy squamates and that comparative cytogenetics provides a useful set of tools to describe evolutionary dynamics.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization, M.M.; methodology, M.M. and G.O.; validation, M.M. and G.O.; data curation, M.M., G.O., F.M.G. and E.B.; writing—original draft preparation, M.M.; writing—review and editing, M.M., G.O., F.M.G. and E.B.; visualization, M.M., G.O., F.M.G. and E.B. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

This research received no external funding.

Institutional Review Board Statement

For this study we used samples already collected for other previously published studies with the approval of institutional committees and no further sampling was performed.

Informed Consent Statement

Not applicable, as this research did not involve humans.

Data Availability Statement

Newly generated cytogenetic data are available within this manuscript. DNA sequences are available on GenBank (accession numbers: OR113357-OR113363).

Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Malagasy authorities for granting research and export permits. We thank Gennaro Aprea and Franco Andreone for providing us with the tissue samples.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Animals 13 02068 g001 550
Figure 1. Phylogenetic tree with Bayesian inference using MrBayes 3.2. Asterisks at nodes represent posterior support values >0.97.
Figure 1. Phylogenetic tree with Bayesian inference using MrBayes 3.2. Asterisks at nodes represent posterior support values >0.97.
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Animals 13 02068 g002 550
Figure 2. Giemsa-stained karyotypes of B. sakalava clade B (A), B. sakalava clade A (B), B. antongilensis, (C), B. boivini (D). The boxes show the NOR bearing pair, stained with Giemsa (left) and Ag-NOR staining (right).
Figure 2. Giemsa-stained karyotypes of B. sakalava clade B (A), B. sakalava clade A (B), B. antongilensis, (C), B. boivini (D). The boxes show the NOR bearing pair, stained with Giemsa (left) and Ag-NOR staining (right).
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Figure 3. Metaphase plates of B. boivini (A,C,E) and B. antongilensis (B,D,F) sequentially stained with C-banding + Giemsa (A,B), +CMA3 (C,D) and +DAPI (E,F).
Figure 3. Metaphase plates of B. boivini (A,C,E) and B. antongilensis (B,D,F) sequentially stained with C-banding + Giemsa (A,B), +CMA3 (C,D) and +DAPI (E,F).
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Figure 4. Phylogenetic relationships of Blaesodactylus, Homopholis and Geckolepis with the available haploid karyograms. h.a. = hypothesised ancestral condition, cF = centric fusion, inv = inversion. a = present paper; b = [20]; c = [7]; d = [30]; e = [31]. Phylogenetic relationships were redrawn from ([19,32], present study).
Figure 4. Phylogenetic relationships of Blaesodactylus, Homopholis and Geckolepis with the available haploid karyograms. h.a. = hypothesised ancestral condition, cF = centric fusion, inv = inversion. a = present paper; b = [20]; c = [7]; d = [30]; e = [31]. Phylogenetic relationships were redrawn from ([19,32], present study).
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Table
Table 1. Taxonomic attribution, origin, sex, field number of the study specimens of Blaesodactylus.
Table 1. Taxonomic attribution, origin, sex, field number of the study specimens of Blaesodactylus.
SpeciesSpecimenLocalitySex
B. antongilensisGA 483Masobe Forest, Betamponafemale
B. antongilensisGA 1049Masobe Forest, Betamponafemale
B. boiviniFGMV 3010Montagne des Françaisfemale
B. sakalava clade AFGMV 2029Ifatyfemale
B. sakalava clade AFGMV 2030Ifatymale
B. sakalava clade AFGMV 2032Ifatymale
B. sakalava clade BGA 80Isalomale
B. sakalava clade BGA 376Marofandiliajuvenile
B. sakalava clade BGA 377Marofandiliamale
B. sakalava clade BGA 378Marofandiliamale
Table
Table 2. Chromosome morphometric parameters of the study species. RL% = Relative Length (length a chromosome/total chromosome length × 100). m = metacentric; sm = submetacentric; t = telocentric.
Table 2. Chromosome morphometric parameters of the study species. RL% = Relative Length (length a chromosome/total chromosome length × 100). m = metacentric; sm = submetacentric; t = telocentric.
SpeciesB. antongilensisB. boiviniB. sakalava cl. AB. sakalava cl.B
Chrom.RL%RL%RL%RL%
19.6 ± 0.7
25.0 ± 4.0 (st/sm)		9.7 ± 0.6 (t)9.8 ± 1.0
39.3 ± 4.5 (m)		9.1 ± 0.8
43.1 ± 3.4 (m)
28.7 ± 1.1 (t)8.2 ± 0.4 (t)8.2 ± 0.9 (t)8.1 ± 0.9 (t)
37.4 ± 0.4 (t)7.4 ± 1.2 (t)8.1 ± 0.7 (t)7.8 ± 0.6 (t)
47.3 ± 0.5 (t)6.6 ± 0.9 (t)7.1 ± 0.6 (t)6.6± 0.8 (t)
57.0 ± 0.7 (t)5.8 ± 0.7 (t)6.8.1 ± 0.5 (t)6.4 ± 0.6 (t)
66.7 ± 0.6
38.4 ± 3.5 (m)		5.8 ± 1.0 (t)6.2 ± 0.8
47.0 ± 3.0 (m)		6.2 ± 0.6
46.3 ± 3.1 (m)
76.2 ± 0.9 (t)5.7 ± 0.5 (t)5.4 ± 0.6 (t)6.1 ± 0.8 (t)
85.6 ± 0.8 (t)5.6 ± 0.4 (t)5.3 ± 0.7 (t)5.7 ± 0.6 (t)
95.0 ± 0.6 (t)5.6 ± 0.6 (t)5.3 ±0.8 (t)5.4 ± 0.5 (t)
104.9 ± 0.5 (t)5.6 ± 0.6 (t)5.2 ± 0,6 (t)4.9 ± 0.4 (t)
114.8 ± 0.8 (t)4.6 ± 0.5 (t)4.2 ± 0.6 (t)4.5 ± 0.6 (t)
124.6 ± 0.4 (t)3.9 ± 0.5 (t)4.0 ± 0.4 (t)4.1 ± 0.7 (t)
134.0 ± 0.6 (t)3.3 ± 0.4 (t)3.8 ± 0.5 (t)3.8 ± 0.7 (t)
143.3 ± 1.0 (t)3.3 ± 0.8 (t)3.7 ± 0.7 (t)3.6 ± 0.9 (t)
153.2 ± 0.8 (t)3.2 ± 0.6 (t)3.7 ± 0.7 (t)3.4 ± 0.5 (t)
162.8 ± 0.9 (t)3.2 ± 0.7 (t)3.5 ± 0.6 (t)3.1 ± 0.8 (t)
172.6 ± 0.7 (t)2.9 ± 0.5 (t)3.3 ± 0.6 (t)3.0 ± 0.5 (t)
182.3 ± 0.6 (t)2.8 ± 0.4 (t)2.8 ± 0.7 (t)2.8 ± 0.4 (t)
192.0 ± 0.5 (t)2.4 ± 0.4 (t)2.7 ± 0.8 (t)2.7 ± 0.6 (t)
202.0 ± 0.8 (t)2.3 ± 0.3 (t)2.6 ± 0.5 (t)2.6 ± 0.7 (t)
21 1.9 ± 0.5 (t)
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Mezzasalma, M.; Brunelli, E.; Odierna, G.; Guarino, F.M. Chromosome Diversity and Evolution of the Endemic Malagasy Velvet Geckos of the Genus Blaesodactylus (Reptilia, Gekkonidae). Animals 2023, 13, 2068. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13132068

AMA Style

Mezzasalma M, Brunelli E, Odierna G, Guarino FM. Chromosome Diversity and Evolution of the Endemic Malagasy Velvet Geckos of the Genus Blaesodactylus (Reptilia, Gekkonidae). Animals. 2023; 13(13):2068. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13132068

Chicago/Turabian Style

Mezzasalma, Marcello, Elvira Brunelli, Gaetano Odierna, and Fabio Maria Guarino. 2023. "Chromosome Diversity and Evolution of the Endemic Malagasy Velvet Geckos of the Genus Blaesodactylus (Reptilia, Gekkonidae)" Animals 13, no. 13: 2068. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13132068

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