Cytotaxonomic Characterization of the Genera Scleratoscopia and Tetanorhynchus (Orthoptera-Proscopiidae).

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  • Mour R. C.
    Departamento de Genética (CCB), Universidade Federal de Pernambuco
  • Souza M. J.
    Departamento de Genética (CCB), Universidade Federal de Pernambuco
  • Tashiro T.
    Departamento de Educacão Física (CCS), Universidade Federal de Pernambuco

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Abstract

In the present investigation we studied cytotaxonomically three species of grasshoppers of the family Proscopiidae, Tetanorhynchus silvai, Scleratoscopia protopeirae and S. Spinosa. Analysis of the phallic complex and of external morphological traits showed significant differences between species. In particular, comparative analysis of the phallic complex suggested that Scleratoscopia silvai Jago, 1989 should be reassigned to the genus Tetanorhynchus, as first described by Rehn (1957). T. silvai, S. protopeirae and S. spinosa have diploid numbers of 2n =19 X0 in males and 2n = 20 XX in females. The chromosomes of these species are described here for the first time. Although they present the same diploid number, these species differ in chromosome morphology. T. silvai showed a karyotype consisting solely of acrocentric chromosomes, whereas S. protopeirae and S. spinosa have karyotypes formed by two pairs of submetacentric autosomes and seven pairs of acrocentrics. In these two species, chromosome X is submetacentric. The karyotype of Scleratoscopia was considered to be derived due to the probable occurrence of pericentric inversions from an ancestral karyotypes consisting of acrocentrics. Three species analyzed are monomorphic for their karyotypic constituints. C-banding showed that these species have small blocks of constitutive heterochromatin in all chromosomes in the complement, except for pairs 7 and 8 and for chromosome X of T. silvai, which presented larger blocks. Silver nitrate staining in early prophase and in specrmatids showed the occurrence of at least two nucleoli for each species studied. S. protopeirae and S. spinosa represent the first species in the family Proscopiidae, with a karyotype of 2n =19 (_??_) in which biarmed chromosomes occur. The chromosomal differences between T. silvai and the Scleratoscopia species also support the reassignment of S. silvai to the genus Tetanorhynchus.

Journal

  • CYTOLOGIA

    CYTOLOGIA 61 (2), 169-178, 1996

    Japan Mendel Society, International Society of Cytology

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