Cytogenetic Studies Comparing Three Characidae Fish Species from the Iguatemi River Basin, Brazil

Characidae is one of the predominant fish groups in the Neotropical region with approximately 30 highly diversified subfamilies, probably not representing a monophyletic group. Three Characidae species from the Iguatemi River Basin (Mundo Novo, MS, Brazil) were analyzed: Astyanax bockmanni with 2n=50 chromosomes (6m+20sm+8st+16a), Bryconamericus stramineus with 2n=52 chromosomes (6m+10sm+16st+20a) and Piabina argentea with 2n=52 chromosomes (6m+24sm+12st+10a), all the species showing no differences between male and female karyotypes. The Ag-NORs were located in only a single chromosome pair in the three species. The chromosomal data obtained may be useful for the taxonomy and phylogenetic studies in these fish groups.