C-banded karyotype and NORs of the long-eared hedgehog, Hemiechinus auritus from Turkey

Abstract

The karyotype, C-banding, and nucleolar organizer regions (NORs) of six specimens of Hemiechinus auritus from Turkey were examined. The diploid number of chromosomes was 2n = 48, the fundamental number of chromosome arms FN = 96, and the number of autosomal arms FNa = 92. Most of the chromosomes possessed centromeric constitutive heterochromatin, except of the pairs nos. 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12. and 17. The X and Y chromosomes appeared to be euchromatic. and possible geographic variation in their morphology was indicated in comparison with Previously published data. The NORs were located in the terminal regions of the long arms of four metacentric or submetacentric chromosomes. The localization of the NORs was not associated with C-positive autosomal regions as in hedgehogs of the genus Erinaceus.