Intra- and inter-individual chromosome variation in Hoplerythrinus unitaeniatus (Pisces, Erythrinidae): a population from the Brazilian São Francisco river basin

Chromosomal studies were carried out on a population of the fish Hoplerythrinus unitaeniatus (jeju) from Prata river in the Sao Francisco river basin, Minas Gerais, Brazil using conventional Giemsa staining, C-banding, silver nitrate nucleolar organizer region (Ag-NOR) staining and fluorescent In situ hybridization (FISH) with 18S and 5S rDNA probes. We found a high degree of inter- and intra-individual variability with the identification of 2n = 50, 2n = 51 and 2n = 52 karyotypes at nearly the same frequency within the population. Intra-individual variation in chromosomal morphology and, consequently, karyotype formulae was also observed, chiefly in the specimens with 2n = 50 and 2n = 52 chromosomes. Ag-NORs and 18S rDNA sites also showed numerical and chromosomal variation similar to that found for the 5S rDNA sites. Some putative hypotheses are considered in order to explain these results.