Germ cell chromosomes in two species of terrestrial isopods from India

Summary In 2 species of terrestrial isopods, namelyPorcellio assamensis andP. laevis, the diploid and haploid numbers of chromosomes have been established to be 48 and 24 respectively for the former species and 50 and 25 respectively for the latter species. Female heterogamety of the ZW type has been found to exist inP. laevis.The authors express their sincere thanks to Prof. G.P. Sharma, and to Prof. S. Khera, Department of Zoology, Panjab University, Chandigarh, for the necessary laboratory facilities.