Chromosome studies in a small African barb species Enteromius cf. punctitaeniatus from Opa Reservoir, Ile-Ife, Southwestern, Nigeria

Abstract

Enteromius cf. punctitaeniatus is a Cyprinid fish obtained from the Opa Reservoir, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. Using the conventional Giemsa staining procedure, we provided the first cytogenetic information of E. cf. punctitaeniatus. Gill cells were used to make mitotic chromosome preparations. The diploid number (2n) of 50 chromosomes was identified in E. cf. punctitaeniatus and consistent with the diploid chromosome number recorded for small African barb species. Also, the number of chromosomal arms (NF) was 80 and within the range known for small African barb species. The karyotypic formula was 18m + 2sm + 2st + 28T. The longest and shortest chromosomes in the diploid set are 0.65 m and 0.24 m long, respectively. There was no karyological evidence of sex chromosomal dimorphism discovered in this study.