Chromosome relationships in the genus Blennius (Bienniidae Perciformes) C-banding patterns suggest two karyoevolutional pathways

Abstract

The karyotypes of the Mediterranean blenniid species: Blennius gattorugine, B. ponticus incognitus, B. pavo, B. sanguinolentus, B. galerfta, B. trigloides and B. pholis were analyzed by means of conventional, silver staining and C-banding techniques. All have shown 2n=48, except B. pholis with 2n=46, while the NF varies from 54 to 72. Only two NORs, in terminal position on the short arms of the carrier pair, were detected in all species. These regions have proved to be structurally polymorphic in four species. Two markedly different C-banding patterns lead us to separate the species into two different karyoevolutionarycategories, whose tax- onomic and specialization implications are discussed.