Révison caryologique des barbinés et hypothèses concernant la plésiomorphie possible de l'état polyploïde chez les Cyprinidés

Abstract

The new model of karyological evolution of Cyprinidae which proposes that the polyploid value 2n=100 should be regarded as plesiomorphic for the family, contrary to the orthodox theory, seems to be reinforced by some new data on chromosome numbers of African and South-Asian cyprinins. So, the hypothesis of a cyprinin-like ancestor, probably close to the barbin lineage, with polyploidy acting as an «open-system» in the karyoevolution of cyprinids, is suggested. The important role of this phenomenon in the evolutionary process of some lineages seems to be unquestionable and, in this sense, it is proposed that systematists should give more attention to karyological data in the establishment of their classification schemes, Besides, technological advances in molecular cytogenetics will provide important tools for the revision of the hierarchical levels used in the classification of Cyprinidae and, possibly, for the recognition of phylogenetic relationships within cypriniforms. THE KARYOLOGY OF BARBINS AND THE POSSIBLE PLESIOMORPHIC CONDITION OF POLYPLOIDY IN CYPRINIDAE.