Holcosus festivus (Lichtenstein et von Martens, 1856)

Castiglia, Riccardo, Flores-Villela, Oscar Alberto, Bezerra, Alexandra M. R., Gornung, Ekaterina, Annesi, Flavia, Munoz-Alonso, Luis Antonio & Solano, Emanuela, 2020, Detection of cryptic diversity in lizards (Squamata) from two Biosphere Reserves in Mesoamerica, Comparative Cytogenetics 14 (4), pp. 613-638 : 613

Holcosus festivus (Lichtenstein et von Martens, 1856)

Distribution.

This species is found in the lowlands of Tabasco and Mexico down to Colombia; it does not enter in the Yucatan Peninsula.

Samples.

RCMX223 (female*), RCMX224 (female*), and RCMX233 (female) from Estación Chajul, Selva Lacandona, Montes Azules, Chiapas, Mexico.

DNA taxonomy.

The 600-bp PCR-amplified fragments of the MT-ND2 gene were identical in the two specimens (RCMX223 and RCMX233). The BLASTn search showed that this sequence belongs to Holcosus festivus , with 99.8% - 100% identity to H. festivus (KR058107, Montes Azules) and 96% identity to the other two H. festivus samples (KR058105 and KR058106, Costa Rica).

Chromosomes.

Here we report the first karyotype description for H. festivus (Fig. 5B ). We analyzed two female individuals, both with the diploid number 2n = 50. The karyotype is composed of a gradual series of acrocentric chromosomes: 26 macro- and 24 microchromosomes. The largest pair of chromosomes shows a secondary constriction at the distal end (see discussion below under the H. undulatus account).

Figures

Figure 5. Karyotypes of A Phyllodactylus sp. 3 (2 n = 38, RCMX 69 male) B Holcosus festivus (2 n = 50, RCMX 224 female) C Holcosus undulatus parvus (2 n = 50, RCMX 77 female) D Aspidoscelis deppii (2 n = 52, RCMX 76 female).