Comparative karyology based systematics of Euphlyctis hexadactylus and Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis

Although characterization and systematic relationships based on karyological and molecular data have been determined for many genera and species of the Ranidae family, two frogs namely, Euphlyctis hexadactylus and Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis have not been studied in depth. In this study, G-banding was used for karyotyping and comparative karyotype analysis was carried out to establish the cytological differences and the phylogenetic relationship of these two species. Both the species show 2n=26, 5 metacentric chromosomes, and no sex chromosome has been found. E. cyanophlyctis shows 7, 1, and 1 numbers of respectively sub-metacentric, acrocentric, and NOR (nuclear organizer region) chromosomes; while the numbers are respectively 8, 0, and 2 in E. hexadactylus. Distinct banding patterns, total chromosomal length, and centromeric index are also found that can be used to distinguish these two frogs cytologycally. The karyology based evolutionary analysis suggests that E. cyanophlyctis is primitive than that of E. hexadactylus. ©IJIB, All rights reserved