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Brachyhypopomus (Hypopomidae, Gymnotiformes) is a monophyletic genus consisting of 28 formally described species. Karyotypic data are available for 12 species. The same karyotype is described for two species ( B. brevirostris and B. hamiltoni ), as well as different karyotypes for the same species from distinct locations ( B. brevirostris ). In this context, B. brevirostris may constitute a cryptic species complex. Thus, in the present study, we analyzed the karyotype of B. brevirostris , from Santarém, Pará, and Tefé, Amazonas, using classical cytogenetics (conventional staining and C-banding) and molecular techniques (fluorescence in situ hybridization using 18S rDNA, 5S rDNA, U2 snRNA, and telomeric probes). The results show that samples from both locations present 2n = 38, with all chromosomes being acrocentric (FC = 38a). In both populations, 18S rDNA sequences are present on only one pair of homologous chromosomes and telomeric sequences occur only at the ends of the chromosomes. In the Tefé sample, the 5S rDNA occurs in two pairs, and the U2 snRNA in three pairs. These results are the first descriptions of these sequences for B. brevirostris samples from the Tefé locality, as well as the first karyotypic description for the Santarém locality. Future cytotaxonomic studies of this genus can benefit from these results.

Archolaemus , one of the five genera of Neotropical freshwater fish of the family Sternopygidae (Gymnotiformes), was long considered a monotypic genus represented by Archolaemus blax . Currently, it consists of six species, most of them occurring in the Amazon region. There are no cytogenetic data for species of this genus. In the present study, we used classical cytogenetics (conventional staining and C-banding) and molecular cytogenetics (probes of telomeric sequences and multigenic families 18S rDNA, 5S rDNA, and U2 snDNA) to study the karyotype of Archolaemus janeae from Xingu and Tapajós rivers in the state of Pará (Brazil). The results showed that the two populations have identical karyotypes with 46 chromosomes: four submetacentric and 42 acrocentric (2 n  = 46; 4m/sm + 42a). Constitutive heterochromatin occurs in the centromeric region of all chromosomes, in addition to small bands in the interstitial and distal regions of some pairs. The 18S rDNA occurs in the distal region of the short arm of pair 2; the 5S rDNA occurs in five chromosome pairs; and the U2 snDNA sequence occurs in chromosome pairs 3, 6, and 13. No interstitial telomeric sequence was observed. These results show karyotypic similarity between the studied populations suggesting the existence of a single species and are of great importance as a reference for future cytotaxonomic studies of the genus., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest., (© 2021 The Authors. Ecology and Evolution published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Peckoltia is widely distributed genus in the Amazon and Orinoco basins and the Guiana Shield, containing 18 valid species, and distinct morphotypes still needing description in the scientific literature due to its great taxonomic complexity. This study performed a comparative chromosomal analysis of two undescribed Peckoltia species ( Peckoltia sp. 3 Jarumã and Peckoltia sp. 4 Caripetuba) from the Brazilian Amazon using conventional chromosome bands methods and in situ localization of the repetitive DNA ( 5S and 18S rRNA and U1 snRNA genes and telomeric sequences). Both species presented 2n = 52 but differed in their karyotype formula, probably due to inversions or translocations. The nucleolus organizer regions (NORs) showed distal location on a probably homeologous submetacentric pair in both species, besides an extra signal in a subtelocentric chromosome in Peckoltia sp. 4 Caripetuba. Heterochromatin occurred in large blocks, with different distributions in the species. The mapping of the 18S and 5S rDNA, and U1 snDNA showed differences in locations and number of sites. No interstitial telomeric sites were detected using the (TTAGGG)n probes. Despite 2n conservationism in Peckoltia species, the results showed variation in karyotype formulas, chromosomal bands, and locations of repetitive sites, demonstrating great chromosomal diversity. A proposal for Peckoltia karyotype evolution was inferred in this study based on the diversity of location and number of chromosomal markers analyzed. A comparative analysis with other Peckoltia karyotypes described in the literature, their biogeography patterns, and molecular phylogeny led to the hypothesis that the derived karyotype was raised in the left bank of the Amazon River., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Santos da Silva, de Souza, Pety, Noronha, Vicari, Pieczarka and Nagamachi.)

Loricariidae is a diverse group of fish from the neotropical region, occupying a wide variety of freshwater environments. Cytogenetic data have brought important insights into Loricariidae diversity because they help validate undescribed species as well as our understanding of inter- and intraspecific diversity. However, conventional cytogenetic approaches are limited in their ability to detect variability in some lineages, as seen in the Peckoltia clade, owing to their apparent conserved karyotype. Thus, the aim of this work was to map 5S and 18S ribosomal (rDNA) sites in five species of Peckoltia and one species of Ancistomus from the Amazon basin, and discusses the mechanisms of organization and diversification of these clusters. The species analyzed were found to have 2n = 52 and share KF = 38 m-sm +14st-a chromosomes, except Peckoltia vittata with KF = 34 m-sm +18st-a. Extensive variations in the number and location of 5S and 18S rDNA sites were observed among species. These data indicate that inversions are not the most important events in karyotype evolution in this group, and should prove useful in identifying the species studied here. In addition to inversions, transpositions are important evolutionary events that are involved at least in rDNA clusters spreading in Peckoltia and probably in other species of Hypostominae.