Characterization of sex chromosomes in three deeply diverged species of Pseudocrenilabrinae (Teleostei: Cichlidae)

The African cichlid radiations have created thousands of new cichlid species with a wide diversity of trophic morphologies, behaviors, sensory systems, and pigment patterns. In addition, recent research has uncovered a surprising number of young sex chromosome systems within African cichlids. Here, we refine methods to describe the differentiation of young sex chromosomes from whole genome comparisons. We identified a novel XY sex chromosome system on linkage group 14 in Oreochromis mossambicus, confirmed a linkage group 1 XY system in Coptodon zillii, and also defined the limits of our methodology by examining a ZW system on linkage group 3 in Pelmatolapia mariae. These data further demonstrate that cichlids are an excellent model system for understanding the early stages of sex chromosome evolution.