Phylogenetic inferences of Atelinae (Platyrrhini) based on multi-directional chromosome painting in Brachyteles arachnoides, Ateles paniscus paniscus and Ateles b. marginatus

We performed multi-directional chromosome painting in a comparative
cytogenetic study of the three Atelinae species Brachyteles
arachnoides, Ateles paniscus paniscus and Ateles belzebuth
marginatus, in order to reconstruct phylogenetic relationships
within this Platyrrhini subfamily. Comparative chromosome maps
between these species were established by multi-color fluorescence
in situ hybridization ( FISH) employing human, Saguinus oedipus and
Lagothrix lagothricha chromosome-specific probes. The three species
included in this study and four previously analyzed species from
all four Atelinae genera were subjected to a phylogenetic analysis
on the basis of a data matrix comprised of 82 discrete chromosome
characters. The results confirmed that Atelinae represent a
monophyletic clade with a putative ancestral karyotype of 2n = 62
chromosomes. Phylogenetic analysis revealed an evolutionary
branching sequence \{Alouatta \{Brachyteles \{Lagothrix and
Ateles\}\}\} in Atelinae and \{Ateles belzebuth marginatus \{Ateles
paniscus paniscus \{Ateles belzebuth hybridus and Ateles
geoffroyi\}\}\} in genus Ateles. The chromosomal data support a
re-evaluation of the taxonomic status of Ateles b. hybridus.
Copyright (C) 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel.