Litoria spenceri (Spencer, 1901)

Mollard, Richard, Mahony, Michael, Marantelli, Gerry & West, Matt, 2018, The critically endangered species Litoria spenceri demonstrates subpopulation karyotype diversity, Amphibian & Reptile Conservation (e 166) 12 (2), pp. 28-36 : 32

Litoria spenceri Northern Site x Central Site: captive bred tadpole

One unsexed mixed Northern and Central Site tadpole was studied. Thirty-one of 33 spreads counted were 2n = 26. Nine karyotypes were prepared, confirming the 2n = 26 karyotype ( Fig. 8 ; data not shown). When arranged in descending order of size, the same chromosomal metacentric, submetacentric, and subtelocentric configuration was observed as for the Central Site animals ( Figs. 4 , 8 ; Table 1; data not shown). DAPI negative regions were evident on the short arms of both homologous chromosomes of chromosome 9, and one chromosome 11 matched chromosome in all nine karyotypes ( Figs. 4 , 8 ; data not shown). The one matched chromosome of the chromosome 11 pair that did not display this DAPI negative region was submetacentric in all nine karyotypes ( Figs. 4 , 8 ; data not shown).

Figures

Fig. 8. Karyotype from a Northern Site x Central Site L. spenceri unsexed tadpole hybrid.A representative karyotype demonstrates the L. spenceri 2n = 26 karyotype and DAPI negative areas in the long arm of chromosome 9, as well as one matched chromosome of chromosome 11. The chromosome 11 matched chromosome that does not contain the DAPI negative area is submetacentric.

Fig. 4. Chromosomes 9 and 11 from different L. spenceri populations. Three representative chromosomes from each animal demonstrate a highly conserved DAPI negative region in the long arms of chromosome 9. A DAPI negative region is observed in the long arm of chromosome 11, but only in the Central Site juveniles and in only one matched chromosome of the Northern Site x Central Site tadpole hybrid.Arrows indicate the chromosome 11 DAPI negative region.Asterisks indicate the paired submetacentric chromosome 11 matched pair of the Northern Site x Central Site tadpole hybrid.