Cytogenetic characteristics of the fish genus Cobitis from England

The chromosomes of spiny loach specimens, genus Cobitis, from three populations in England were examined using Giemsa staining, Ag-NOR, C-banding and CMA3 techniques. All individuals examined invariably had a diploid chromosome number 2n=48 and a karyotype composed of ten metacentric, eighteen submetacentric and twenty subtelo-acrocentric chromosomes. The results revealed that only C. taenia occurred in the northern part of the Cobitis distribution range. Various cytogenetic features such as the number and location of Ag-NORs, DNA sites rich in GC pairs, and C bands confirmed the taxonomic status of the specimens. Among the individuals from English populations no polyploid forms have been detected.