Investigations of Karyology and Hybrids in Triturus boscai and T. vittatus, With a Reinterpretation of the Species Groups Within Triturus (Caudata: Salamandridae)

The karyology of the newts Triturus boscai and T. vittatus ophryticus was studied by analyzing the mitotic and meiotic chromosomes submitted to banding procedures and by examining the structural characters of the ovarian giant lampbrush chromosomes. The two species were also tested in a number of interspecific hybrid experiments in order to assess their relationships within the genus Triturus. Karyology of European salamandrids is used to evaluate the validity and composition of species groups in the genus.