Karyotypic characterization of three chilean subspecies of Liolaemus monticola

Abstract

Liolaemus monticola, Müller and Hellmich, is a highly variable, endemic montane species distributed along the temperate Andes in Chile. The subspecies (Müller and Hellmich) karyotypes established from their type localities are Liolaemus monticola villaricensis and Liolaemus monticola chillanensis; they retain a relatively conservative 2n = 32, with 12 macrochromosomes and 20 microchromosomes. Liolaemus monticola monticola differs strikingly from the former having a diploid number ranging from 38 to 40 in different variants. The increased diploid number can be explained by several possible independent chromosomal centric fissions of 1 or 2 pairs of macrochromosomes, and changes in the chromosomal morphology can be explained by pericentric inversion and simple translocation. Liolaemus monticola monticola is also polymorphic for chromosomal fission in pair no. 3. There is also an increase in the number of microchromosomes. © 1981, American Genetic Association.