Chromosomal evolution and zoogeographic origin of southeast Asian shrews (genusCrocidura)

To the origins and evolution of Indomalayan shrews, we investigated the chromosomal variations of 14 species ofCrocidura from SE Asia. Intraspecific polymorphism was mainly due to variation in the number of short chromosomal arms butC. lepidura andC. hutanis showed a polymorphism due to a centric fusion. The undifferentially stained karyotypes were similar in 9 species, all possessing 2n=38 and FN=54–56 (68);C. fuliginosa had 2n=40 and FN=54–58. These karyotypes are close to the presumed ancestral state for the genusCrocidura. Four species from Sulawesi had a reduced diploid number (2n=30–34), a trend not observed among other SE Asian species but present in few Palaearctic taxa. Compared to the apparent stasis of karyotypic evolution observed among other SE Asian species, the high degree of interspecific differences reported among Sulawesian shrews is unusual and needs further investigation.Stasis and reduction in diploid number found in both Indomalayan and Palaearctic species suggest that these two groups share a common ancestry. This is in sharp contrast to most Afrotropical species which evolved towards higher diploid and fundamental numbers. The zoogeographical implications of these results are discussed.     

A chromosome study ofScarites occidentalis (Coleoptera,Caraboidea)

Summary Scarites occidentalis has 2n=41 (females 2n=42), n=19+X₁X₂Y. This multiple sex-chromosome system and other karyotypic characteristics suggest that this species andS. buparius share a recent common ancestor in which the sex trivalent was probably originated.Thanks are due to Dr N. Virkki for his valuable comments and his help with the English, to Dr Ramos and Dr Aparicio for discussion and advice, to Dr F. Hiraldo and M. Mañez for collecting the specimens. This work has been supported by a postdoctoral fellowship of the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas.     

Karyotypes of two species of insectivora from Taiwan (Insectivora,Soricidae)

Summary The karyotypes of two Insectivora species from Taiwan are described here for the first time.Soriculus caudatus fumidas has 2n=40 chromosomes, FN=52 andAnourosorex squamipes yamashinai has 2n=50 chromosomes, FN=96. ForA. s. yamashinai the G- and C-banding pattern are presented.Acknowledgment. The authors are grateful to Dr P. T. Tseng, and Mr H. M. Lin of Taiwan Provincial Institute of Infectious Diseases and to Prof. I. Sawada of Nara University of Education for their help during the collection of the material and their encouragement.     

Somatic chromosomes of Indian burrowing toad,Uperodon globulosum (Gunther) (Anura; Amphibia)

Summary Somatic chromosome complements of the Indian burrowing toad,Uperodon globulosum, have been described for the first time. The 2n number is 26 (NF=52) in both the sexes. No heteromorphism in relation to sex chromosome pair has been recorded. Deviations from 2n number (2n=10–28) have been noticed in the cells of different specimens. The result has been compared withU. systoma.Acknowledgment. Sincere thanks are due to Prof. P. K. Ghosh, Hooghly Mohsin College and to Dr A. K. Roy of the same college for encouragement. Thanks are due to Mr Bipul Kumar Das for his help during collection of specimen.     

Karyotypes of three species of Caviinae (Rodentia,Caviidae)

Summary Chromosomes ofCavia aperea aperea (2n=64; FN=116Galea spixii (2n=64; FN=118) andKerodon rupestris (2n=52; FN=92) are described with data on banding patterns. Comparisons with karyotypes of others species of Caviinae are taken into consideration.The research was supported by Projeto Integrado de Genética (PIG-CNPq) and Academia Brasileira de Ciências (FINEP-85-I).     

Karyotype of South American pampas ofPseudalopex gymnocercus (Carnivora,Canidae)

Summary The karyotype of the pampas fox has 2n=74 and a NF=76. Except forChrysocyon brachyurus, 2n=74 is a common diploid number for the South American Canidae. This number is higher than in theVulpes group and lower than in the group of the typicalCanis. No marker chromosomes are present in the South American Canidae.     

Artbastarde in der GattungTilapia (Cichlidae,Teleostei) und ihr Verhalten

Summary The young ofTilapia mossambica (mouth-brooder) show a characteristic contact-behaviour, which is related to the behaviour of the mother fish, who takes them back into the mouth cavity in cases of disturbance. This contacting is lacking in the young ofTilapia tholloni (substrate spawner). Contacting, as studied in our experiments with models, is genetically determined and is dominant over thetholloni pattern in the crossT. mossambica ×T. tholloni .     

Chromosome complement of two species of Amelinae (Dictyoptera: Mantodea)

Summary The karyotypes ofApteromantis aptera (Fuente) andAmeles decolor (Charpentier) are described. Chromosomes numbers in females are 2n=30 and 2n=28 respectively. Sex determination mechanism in both is XO-XX.     

Centric fusion in the malayan house rat,Rattus rattus diardii (Rodentia,Muridae)

Zusammenfassung Bei einem Männchen vonRattus rattus diardii aus Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) wurden 41 Chromosomen (normal 2n = 42) gefunden, was mit der Robertson'schen Translokation in Zusammenhang stehen dürfte, welche die Fusion 2 einarmiger Autosomen in ein grosses, zweiarmiges Chromosom vollzieht.     

Chromosomes of some Asian and South American squirrels (rodentia: Sciuridae)

Zusammenfassung Chromosomensätze verschiedener Sciurinae sind:Sciurus anomalus (2n=40),S. granatensis (2n=42),Callosciurus flavimanus (2n=40),Dremomys rufigenis (2n=38) undMenetes berdmorei (2n= 62). Ein Vergleich mit früher beschriebenen Sciurinae-Karyotypen ergibt als ursprünglich diploide Sätze 38–40, Spaltung, sowie Fusion zu grösseren und kleineren2n's führend.     

Caryotypes de quelques hybrides interspécifiques dePitymys (Mammalia,Rodentia)

Summary The Robertsonian polymorphism ofPitymys subterraneus involves only 1 pair of metacentric autosomes. The crosses of forms with 52, 53 and 54 chromosomes do not show any differences in their reproductive rate. So a single autosome trivalent does not affect the fecondity. Many hybrids have been obtained betweenP. subterraneus (2N=52 or 54) andP. multiplex (2N=48) with 50 or 51 chromosomes, respectively. Even with a heterogenous karyotype they are not entirely sterile. 2 progeny were produced from back-crosses. The 2 parental species seem to result from recent speciation. Only fecondation or embryogenesis occurs in crossingP. duodecimcostatus withP. subterraneus orP. multiplex. The chromosome complement of 1 hybrid embryo ofP. duodecimcostatus (2N=62)×P. multiplex (2N=48) has been studied showing 55 chromosomes.P. duodecimcostatus appears to belong to a more distant evolutionary group.     

Chromosome polymorphism in the malayan house shrew,Suncus murinus (insectivora,soricidae)

Zusammenfassung 15 Exemplare vonSuncus murinus aus Kuala Lumpur und Petaling Jaya, Selangor (Malaysia) zeigten 3 Exemplare mit einer diploiden Zahl von 40, 9 weitere mit 2n=39 und 3 Exemplare mit 2n=38. Der Untrschied der Chromosomenzahl innerhalb einer Intrapopulation wird mit der Robertson'schen Translokation in Zusammenhang gebracht.     

Distribution of constitutive heterochromatin (C-bands) in the somatic chromosomes of an Indian bird,Chrysomma sinense (Gmelin)

Summary The localization of constitutive heterochromatin has been studied in a passerine bird,Chrysomma sinense (2n=±70). In all the 7 pairs of macrochromosomes pericentric heterochromatin has been observed as usual except in pairs Nos 2 and 4, in which both pericentric and non-centromeric heterochromatin have been recorded.The authors are grateful to Prof. B. K. Behura, Department of Zoology, Utkal University, for necessary laboratory and library facilities. T.S. is grateful to the CSIR for providing financial assistance under the JRF scheme.     

Karyotypic variation in Chilean lizards of the genusLiolaemus (Iguanidae)

Summary Most of 12 taxa karyotypes retain 6 pairs of metacentric macrochromosomes (primitive), but show reduced numbers of microchromosomes (2n=34, 32 and 30). Others whow increased diploid numbers due to macrochromosomal fissions (up to 4 fissions, 2n=40). One shows a fission polymorphism.We thank Dr. W.P. Hall for his many suggestions and comments; and L. Alvarez, E. Barrientos, I. Campos, M. Fernandez and F.N. Manzur for generous assistance. This study was aided by the Project del Servicio de Desarrollo Científico de la Universidad de Chile, No. B259-783.     

Powerful hepatoprotective and hepatotoxic plant oligostilbenes,isolated from the Oriental medicinal plantVitis coignetiae (Vitaceae)

The methanol extract of the Oriental medicinal plantVitis coignetiae (Vitaceae) showed hepatoprotective activity in the in vitro assay method using primary cultured rat hepatocytes. Activity-guided fractionation of the extract afforded -viniferin as an active principle. The protective effect of -viniferin against mice carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic injury in mice was shown by serum enzyme assay as well as by pathological examination. In addition to -viniferin, plant oligostilbenes, ampelopsins A, C, F and the mixture of vitisin A andcis-vitisin A were also present in the extract. Among them, ampelopsin C and the mixture of vitisin A andcis-vitisin A were found to be powerful hepatotoxins.     

Cytotaxonomy of the Seychelles tree frog,Megalixalus seychellensis (Duméril and Bibron) (Amphibia: Hyperoliidae)

Summary The Seychelles tree frog,Megalixalus seychellensis has 2n=24 chromosomes of gradually decreasing length. Pairs 2, 3, and 4 are submetacentric, and the remaining pairs are metacentric. The karyotype affirms hyperoliid assignment of this species, and indicates a link between the Seychellean fauna and the African-Madagascan faunas.Research supported by the National Geographic Society.     

A high number of chromosomes in the hillstream cyprinid,Tor putitora (Pisces)

Summary The karyotype of a cyprinid fish occurring in India,Tor putitora is described. The diploid complement comprises 100 chromosomes. The modal number in this family being 2n=50,T. putitora appears to be another case of tetraploidy.The author is highly indebted to Prof. G.K. Manna, and Prof. A.K. Bose, Department of Zoology, University of Kalyani, for encouragement and laboratory facilities. Sincere thanks are due to Dr Raj Tilak, ZSI, Government of India, for identification of the specimens. Financial aid from the University of Kalyani is gratefully acknowledged.     

Die Struktur der Cadmiumhydroxyhalogenide CdCl0,67(OH)1,33, CdBr0,6(OH)1,4, CdJ0,5(OH)1,5

Summary The crystal structure of CdCl_0,67(OH)_1,33, CdBr_0,6(OH)_1,4 and CdJ_0,5(OH)_1,5 is determined, the first crystalizes in the C-19-, the latter in the C-6-type. The dimensions of the lattice of the named compounds and of CdCl_0,67(OH)_1,33 are tabulated together with those of Cd(OH)₂ and of the halogenides. It follows that when in Cd(OH)₂ OH-ions are substituted by halogen-ions, the distancea of the Cd-ions in the layers are changed very little, while the distance of the layersc is increased according to the size of the halogen-ion.     

New contribution to the study of chromosomes of the European Cryptocephalinae (Coleoptera,Chrysomelidae)

Summary The chromosomes of three species ofPachybrachis and nine ofCryptocephalus chrysomelids were analyzed. The male meiotic bivalent formula ofP. azureus Suffr.,P. catalonicus Burl. andP. petitpierrei Daccordi is 7^II+Xy_r.Cryptocephalus sexmaculatus Ol. andC. vittula Suffr. have 13^II+Xy_p,C. bipunctatus L. 14^II+Xy_r,C. ochroleucus Steph. andC. ocellatus Drap. 14^II+Xy_p,C. crassus 01. 15^II+Xy_r,C. sulphureus 01. 15^II+Xy_p, the same number as inC. fulvus Goeze with 2n=32 chromosomes, whileC. primarius Har. has 19^II+Xy_p. The modal chromosome number inCryptocephalus is 2n=30 (about 60% of spp.), and most species are characterized their small chromosomes. The low variation found in the karyotypes of Cryptocephalinae along with their possible interrelationships with allied chrysomelid subfamilies are also discussed.     

The chromosomes ofPasseromyia heterochaeta Villeneuve (Muscidae: Diptera)

Summary The 2 n=10 complement ofPasseromyia heterochaeta Villeneuve consists of 4 pairs of metacentric chromosomes and 1 pair of dots. The evolutionary implications of 2 n=10 in the tribe Phaoniini (Fam. Muscidae) are discussed.Acknowledgments. Thank are due to Dr Adrian C. Pont of British Museum (Natural Histoty), London for identifying our speciens through the courtesy of Dr Rokuro Kano, Dean Faculty of Medicine, Tokyo Medical and Dental University Tokyo, Japan. We also thank Dr U.S. Srivastava, Professor and Head, Dept. of Zoology, Univ. of Allahabad for providing the necessary laboratory faclities.