Karyotypes of three gerbil species of the genera Tatera and Gerbilliscus from Turkey and Senegal

Abstract

In this study, we examined karyotypes of three gerbil species of the genera Tatera add Gerbilliscus. The diploid number of 68 chromosomes was confirmed in all specimens of Tatera indica examined from southeastern Anatolia in Turkey. The C-band positive regions were distributed in centromeris areas of all the autosomal pairs and the X chromosome. The Y chromosome was stained uniformly and C-positively. The active NORs were localind in three out of eight pairs of biarmed autosomes (NF=86). Conventionally stained karyotypes were studied in two species of Gerbilliscus from Senegal, western Africa. The female karyotype of G. gambianus contained 52 chromosomes including one large subtelocentric, six submetacentric and 19 acrocentric pairs (NF=66). The female karyotype of G. guineae contained 50 chromosomes including a large metacentric, eight submetacentric and 16 acrocentric autosomal pairs (NF=68). Minor differences in chromosome morphology were observed in these studied species in comparison with previously published data.