Chromosome painting and phylogenetic analysis suggest that the genus Lophostoma (Chiroptera, Phyllostomidae) is paraphyletic.

Abstract

The subfamily Phyllostominae (Chiroptera, Phyllostomidae) comprises 10 genera of Microchiroptera bats from the Neotropics. The taxonomy of this group is controversial due to incongruities in the phylogenetic relationships evident from different datasets. The genus Lophostoma currently includes eight species whose phylogenetic relationships have not been resolved. Integrative analyzes including morphological, molecular and chromosomal data are powerful tools to investigate the phylogenetics of organisms, particularly if obtained by chromosomal painting. In the present work we performed comparative genomic mapping of three species of Lophostoma (L. brasiliense 2n = 30, L. carrikeri 2n = 26 and L. schulzi 2n = 26), by chromosome painting using whole chromosome probes from Phyllostomus hastatus and Carollia brevicauda; this included mapping interstitial telomeric sites. The karyotype of L. schulzi (LSC) is a new cytotype. The species L. brasiliense and L. carrikeri showed interstitial telomeric sequences that probably resulted from expansions of repetitive sequences near pericentromeric regions. The addition of chromosomal painting data from other species of Phyllostominae allowed phylogeny construction by maximum parsimony, and the determination that the genera of this subfamily are monophyletic, and that the genus Lophostoma is paraphyletic. Additionally, a review of the taxonomic status of LSC is suggested to determine if this species should be reclassified as part of the genus Tonatia.