New Insights into the Sex Chromosome Evolution of the Common Barker Frog Species Complex (Anura, Leptodactylidae) Inferred from Its Satellite DNA Content

Satellite DNAs (satDNAs) play a crucial role in understanding chromosomal evolution and the differentiation of sex chromosomes across diverse taxa, particularly when high karyotypic diversity occurs. The <i>Physalaemus cuvieri-Physalaemus ephippifer</i> species complex comprises at least seven divergent lineages, each exhibiting specific karyotypic signatures. The group composed of <i>Ph. ephippifer</i>, Lineage 1B of '<i>Ph. cuvieri</i>' (L1B), and a lineage resulting from their secondary contact is especially intriguing due to varying degrees of sex chromosome heteromorphism. In this study, we characterized the satellitome of <i>Ph. ephippifer</i> in order to identify novel satDNAs that may provide insights into chromosomal evolution, particularly concerning sex chromosomes. We identified 62 satDNAs in <i>Ph. ephippifer</i>, collectively accounting for approximately 10% of the genome. Notably, nine satDNA families were shared with species from distantly related clades, raising questions about their potential roles in anurans genomes. Among the seven satDNAs mapped via fluorescent in situ hybridization, PepSat3 emerged as a strong candidate for the centromeric sequence in this group. Additionally, PepSat11 and PepSat24 provided evidence supporting a translocation involving both arms of the W chromosome in <i>Ph. ephippifer</i>. Furthermore, a syntenic block composed of PepSat3, PcP190, and PepSat11 suggested an inversion event during the divergence of <i>Ph. ephippifer</i> and L1B. The variation in signal patterns of satDNAs associated with nucleolar organizer regions (NORs) highlights the complexity of NOR evolution in this species complex, which exhibits substantial diversity in this genomic region. Additionally, our findings for PepSat30-350 emphasize the importance of validating the sex-biased abundance of satDNAs.