Rf. Artoni et al., An uncommon condition for a sex chromosome system in Characidae fish. Distribution and differentiation of the ZZ/ZW system in Triportheus, CHROMOS RES, 9(6), 2001, pp. 449-456
Triportheus is a neotropical freshwater Characidae fish that has a well-dif
ferentiated ZZ/ZW sex chromosome system. The W chromosome of this genus con
tains a large amount of heterochromatin and is smaller than the Z chromosom
e. This contrasts with other ZW fish systems where the W chromosome is larg
er in size due to increased heterochromatin. All species of Triportheus tha
t have been studied cytologically (about 50% of the known species for this
genus, from some of the major South American hydrographic basins) share thi
s sex chromosome system, indicating a probable synapomorphic condition not
present in other genera of the large Characidae family. However, while the
Z chromosome appears to be largely conserved, the W chromosome shows a diff
erential evolution with morphological differentiations not only among speci
es, but also among populations from the same hydrographic basin, and with s
ome species presenting a greater homology between the W and the Z chromosom
es than others.