GENETIC-VARIATION IN SOME POPULATIONS OF THE GOLDEN-STRIPED SALAMANDER, CHIOGLOSSA-LUSITANICA (AMPHIBIA, URODELA), IN PORTUGAL

Generic variation in the golden-striped salamander (Chioglossa lusitan ica) was assessed in 231 individuals from four Portuguese populations by means of horizontal starch gel electrophoresis and isoelectric focu sing. Three of 19 enzyme systems, representing 21 presumptive loci, we re found to be polymorphic: phosphoglucomutase 1 (PGM 1), peptidase B (PEPB), and peptidase D (PEPD). The observed average heterozygosity in Chioglossa lusitanica (0.027) is significantly lower than that observ ed for other amphibians, either urodeles or salamandrids. Differences in allele frequencies and the presence of private alleles are indicati ve of a high degree of population differentiation. PEPD, in particular seems to be a diagnostic locus separating the southernmost population studied from the others.