Event Abstract Back to Event Ploidy differences represent an impassable barrier for hybridization. Is there an exception among botiid loaches (Cypriniformes: Botiidae)? Joerg Bohlen1*, Vendula Šlechtová1, Vlastimil Šlechta1, Vera Šlechtová1, Alexandr Sember1 and Petr Rab1 1 Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics AS CR, v.v.i., Czechia One of the most efficient mechanisms to keep animal lineages separate is a difference in ploidy level, since hybrid offspring from parents with different ploidy level are generally sterile. In the freshwater fish family Botiidae, ploidy difference has been held responsible for the separation of its two subfamilies, the tetraploid Botiinae and the diploid Leptobotiinae. However, the species ‘Botia’ zebra combines a number of morphological characters of a genus of Leptobotiinae with morphological characters of a genus of Botiinae, giving rise to the idea that it is the result of a hybridisation event between two species from different subfamilies. We here present a closer morphological examination, an allozyme comparison between ‘Botia’ zebra and the two potential parental species, a cytogenetic analyses as well as phylogenetic reconstructions basing on the complete mitochondrial cytochrome b gene and on the nuclear RAG-1 gene. The results are discussed in a phylogenetic, geographic and ecologic context. Acknowledgements The study was supported by grant 13-37277 S of the Czech Science Foundation (GAČR). Keywords: freshwater fishes, parallel evolution, Chromosome number, mimicry, ecological niche Conference: XV European Congress of Ichthyology, Porto, Portugal, 7 Sep - 11 Sep, 2015. Presentation Type: Oral Presentation Topic: Phylogeny, Systematics and Genetics Citation: Bohlen J, Šlechtová V, Šlechta V, Šlechtová V, Sember A and Rab P (2015). Ploidy differences represent an impassable barrier for hybridization. Is there an exception among botiid loaches (Cypriniformes: Botiidae)?. Front. Mar. Sci. Conference Abstract: XV European Congress of Ichthyology. doi: 10.3389/conf.FMARS.2015.03.00217 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 09 Dec 2015; Published Online: 09 Dec 2015. * Correspondence: Dr. Joerg Bohlen, Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics AS CR, v.v.i., Liběchov, 277 21, Czechia, joerg_bohlen@yahoo.de Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Joerg Bohlen Vendula Šlechtová Vlastimil Šlechta Vera Šlechtová Alexandr Sember Petr Rab Google Joerg Bohlen Vendula Šlechtová Vlastimil Šlechta Vera Šlechtová Alexandr Sember Petr Rab Google Scholar Joerg Bohlen Vendula Šlechtová Vlastimil Šlechta Vera Šlechtová Alexandr Sember Petr Rab PubMed Joerg Bohlen Vendula Šlechtová Vlastimil Šlechta Vera Šlechtová Alexandr Sember Petr Rab Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.