GINT DABAKALO

In this species, the differences in the diploid number, multivalent associations and the appearance of 18S rDNA-bearing chromosomes are detected at inter- and intrapopulation levels, resulting in three distinguished cytotypes. Specimen S 1305 from the locality Burao is assigned to cytotype I, and specimens S1527 and S1199 from N of Burao, Togdheer represent cytotypes II and III, respectively .

Cytotype I (1 Ƌ; S1305) has 2 n = 23 chromosomes, which decrease in length from 7.90% to 2.55% of DSL (Supporting Information, Fig. S1D; Table S2). The post-pachytene cells show nine bivalents and one pentavalent that is composed of chromosomes 1, 4, 5, 10 and 23 (Fig. 2G; Supporting Information, Fig. S1D). The pair of 18S rDNA sites is located in the subterminal region of the largest bivalent (Fig. 2H).

Cytotype II (1 Ƌ; S1527) exhibits 2 n = 24 chromosomes, which decrease in length from 7.65% to 2.95% of DSL (Supporting Information, Fig. S1E; Table S2). The post-pachytene nuclei show a configuration of eight bivalents, one trivalent (chromosomes 2, 12 and 17) and one pentavalent (chromosomes 1, 3, 4, 7 and 20) (Fig. 2I; Supporting Information, Fig. S1E). The pair of 18S rDNA sites is situated in the subterminal region of chromosomes 2 and 12 of the trivalent (Fig. 2J; Supporting Information, Fig. S1E).

Cytotype III (1 Ƌ; S1199) has 2 n = 27 chromosomes, which decrease in length from 8.30% to 1.80% of DSL (Supporting Information, Fig. S1F; Table S2). In the post-pachytene spermatocytes, we observe eight bivalents, two trivalents and one pentavalent (Fig. 2K). The larger trivalent is composed of chromosomes 2, 9 and 10, the smaller trivalent is composed of chromosomes 4, 22 and 25, and chromosomes 1, 3, 5, 8 and 17 form a pentavalent (Supporting Information, Fig. S1F). The 18S rDNA sites are located in the subterminal region of the chromosomes 2 and 9 of the larger trivalent (Fig. 2L; Supporting Information, Fig. S1F).