Cytogenetics of Australian scorpions. I. Interchange polymorphism in the family Buthidae

Abstract

Male scorpions from Australian species of the family Buthidae exhibit a unique combination of cytogenetic features including achiasmate meiosis, holocentric chromosomes, and extensive interchange heterozygosity. Chromosome number is highly conserved, with all species having a basic diploid number of 2n = 14. There is evidence that inbreeding has contributed to the establishment of populations with interchange heterozygotes, some exhibiting rings of up to 12 chromosomes. Although most populations contain both structural homozygotes and interchange heterozygotes, one population may exhibit fixed heterozygosity. It is argued that the interchange heterozygosity observed in buthids is of adaptive significance.Key words: interchange, chromosome polymorphism, achiasmate meiosis, holocentric chromosomes.