High variability in chromosome number from a clade within the gourami family (Teleostei, Osphronemidae).

Abstract

Identifying clades with extensive and conspicuous changes in diploid chromosome number (2n) is an important step in unraveling the evolutionary mechanisms underlying karyotype evolution. Here, we report low 2n in a monophyletic group of teleost fishes within the family Osphronemidae defined by their unique spiral egg structure (the "spiral egg" clade). We sampled seven of the nine known species within the spiral egg clade, reporting novel 2n for five species and confirming two others. We find high variability in both 2n and chromosome arm number (fundamental number, FN), suggesting a 2n reduction during the emergence of the clade and numerous large-scale mutations across evolutionary time. These data provide important information in cataloguing 2n shifts in teleost fishes and highlight this group for further study in chromosomal and genomic evolution due to their karyotypic heterogeneity.