Karyotypes of three «small»Barbusspecies (Cyprinidae) from Republic of Guinea (Western Africa) with a review on karyology of African smallBarbus

Abstract

SUMMARYKaryotypes of three barbels belonging to the group of «small» African species of Barbus sensu lato, B. bigornei, B. ablabes and B. macrops from the Republic of Guinea (Western Africa), were investigated. Diploid chromosome (2n) and chromosome arm (NF) numbers were for B. bigornei 2n = 48 and NF = 96, for B. ablabes 2n= 50 and NF = 98, and for B. macrops 2n = 50 and NF = 92, respectively. The first pair of metacentric chromosomes in all karyotypes was remarkably larger, and it can be considered as a «marker» element for these 3 species. The karyotype characteristics of Barbus species under study demonstrate that they belong to the diploid group of African barbels and they are, in fact, not related to the genus Barbus sensu stricto which is of a distinct evolutionary polyploid origin. Karyology of this poorly studied African cyprinid group is reviewed and discussed.