Record Details

Houck, M. L.;Kingswood, S. C.;Kumamoto, A. T.
Comparative cytogenetics of tapirs, genus Tapirus (Perissodactyla, Tapiridae)
Cytogenetics and Cell Genetics
2000
Journal Article
89
1-2
110-115
0301-0171
banding techniques chromosomes conservation mammals Tapir Bibliography
Chromosomes of the four species of Tapirus were 2n = 52 in T. indicus, 2n = 76 in T. pinchaque, 2n = 80 in T. bairdii, and 2n = 80 in T. terrestris. The number of autosomal arms was 80-94. G-banded karyotypes indicated that a heterochromatic addition/deletion distinguished chromosomes 2 and 3 of T. bairdii and T. pinchaque, respectively, There were at least 13 conserved autosomes between the karyotypes of T. bairdii and T, terrestris, and at least 15 were conserved between T. bairdii and T. pinchaque. In G- and C-banded preparations, the X chromosomes of T. bairdii, T. indicus, and T. terrestris were identical, whereas the X chromosome of T. pinchaque differed from the X of the other species by a heterochromatic addition/deletion. The Y chromosome was a medium-sized to small acrocentric in T. bairdii, T. indicus, and T. pinchaque, but it was not positively identified in T. terrestris. There appeared to be fewer homologies between T. indicus and the three species occurring in Central and South America. Future cytogenetic studies of tapirs from the entire range of each of the four species might provide additional insight into their evolutionary biology and aid wildlife conservation efforts aimed at these threatened mammals. Copyright(C)2000S.KargerAG,Basel.
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