This paper describes the cytogenetic features of the Antarctic silverfish Pleuragramma antarctica (Boulenger 1902), a keystone species of the Antarctic coastal marine ecosystem. Conventional cytogenetic analyses and physical mapping of repetitive DNA sequences were performed on metaphase plates obtained through direct chromosome preparation from P. antarctica early larvae.

The Antarctic silverfish have a diploid number (2n) = 48, and a karyotype made up of a majority of two-armed chromosomes (karyotype formula36m/sm + 10st + 2a, fundamental number = 94). Major ribosomal gene repeats were detected on three chromosome pairs (20, 21, and 23), in correspondence of dim DAPI stained regions. Long Interspersed Nuclear Elements (LINEs) were abundant and wide spread over all chromosomes.

Overall, the cytogenetic data presented herein are consistent with a long independent cytogenetic and evolutionary history for the species. The large number of two-armed chromosomes, indicative of highly-rearranged karyotype, coupled with a diploid number of 48, a presumed primitive character for this fish group, and the spread of the major ribosomal genes on three chromosome pairs, make the Antarctic silverfish distinct from all other notothenioid species.

本文描述了南极银鱼Pleuragramma antarctica（Boulenger 1902）的细胞遗传学特征，该物种是南极沿海海洋生态系统的重要物种。常规细胞遗传学分析和重复DNA序列的物理定位是在通过直接染色体制备从南极疟原虫幼虫直接获得的中期板上进行的。

南极银鱼的二倍体数（2n）= 48，由大多数两臂染色体组成的核型（核型公式为36m / sm + 10st + 2a，基本数= 94）。在三对染色体（20、21和23）上检测到主要的核糖体基因重复，对应于DAPI染色区较暗。长散布的核元素（LINEs）丰富并且广泛分布在所有染色体上。

总体而言，本文提供的细胞遗传学数据与该物种长期独立的细胞遗传学和进化史一致。大量的两臂染色体，表明核型高度重排，再加上二倍体数目为48，这是该鱼群的假定原始特征，主要核糖体基因在三对染色体上的扩散，使南极银鱼不同于所有其他类胡萝卜素类。