CHROMOSOMAL BANDING-PATTERNS IN THE EYELID-LESS MICROTEIID RADIATION - PROCELLOSAURINUS AND VANZOSAURA (SQUAMATA, GYMNOPHTHALMIDAE)

Cytogenetic studies were performed on three species of eyelid-less mic roteiids, Procellosaurinus erythrocerus, P. tetradactylus, and Vanzosa ura rubricauda (Squamata, Gymnophthalmidae), all with a diploid number of 2n = 40. The specimens were collected in the palaeoquartenary dune fields of the middle Rio Sao Francisco in the State of Bahia, Brazil. Chromosomes from fibroblast cultures were studied after routine Giems a staining, CBG- and RBG-banding, and Ag-NOR staining. Despite similar ities in chromosome number and morphology, each species can be differe ntiated by the position and amount of C-heterochromatin. Our cytogenet ic and DNA content data indicate that there are more similarities betw een the two species of Procellosaurinus than exist between either spec ies and V. rubricauda, reinforcing the importance of banding technique s for the characterization of reptilian species.