Chromosomal variation in the northwestern American newts of the genus Taricha (Caudata: Salamandridae).

Chromosomal variation was analysed in 22 populations of newts of the salmandrid genus Taricha of western North America, and compared with that of the eastern North American newts of the genus Notophthalmus. The karyotypes of the species Taricha and Notophthalmus were very similar. However, there was considerable variation in the distribution patterns of heterochromatins (revealed by C-banding) and in the sites of the nucleolar organizing region (NOR) (revealed by fluorochrome chromomycin A3 banding) within and between species of these two genera. Chromosomal variation patterns were interpreted in relation to a phylogenetic hypothesis derived from data on mitochondrial DNA sequences and allozyme variation. This study suggests that the pattern distributions of heterochromatins in chromosomes of Taricha are more derived than those of its sister taxon Notophthalmus. Furthermore, the chromosomal NOR types found in the southernmost and northernmost populations of T. granulosa, in the northernmost populations of T. t. sierrae, and in the southern populations of T. t. torosa are recently derived. The implications of this chromosomal variation for phylogeny and biogeography are discussed.