New insights into the chromosomal differentiation patterns among cichlids from Africa and Madagascar

To increase understanding of the chromosomal diversity among cichlid species, karyotypes of 19 species of Cichlidae belonging to 15 genera (Paratilapia polleni, Chromidotilapia guntheri guntheri, Hemichromis fasciatus, Steatocranus irvinei, Stomatepia pindu, Altolamprologus compressiceps, Julidochromis transcriptus, Neolamprologus tetracanthus, N. brevis, Gnathochromis permaxillaris, Eretmodus cyanostictus, Astatoreochromis alluaudi, Haplochromis callipterus, H. paludinosus, Ninzbochromis livingstonii, N. polystigma, Pseudocrenilabrus multicolor victoriae, P. philander and Ctenochromis horei) were investigated for the first time. In spite of the variation in the karyotypes of cichlid fishes (from 2n = 42 to 2n = 48 chromosomes), the modal chromosome number was 2n = 44. Cytogenetic mapping of the 18S ribosomal RNA (18S rRNA) gene was accomplished.