Chromosomes of lemuriformes. II. Chromosome polymorphism in Lemur fulvus collaris (E. Geoffroy 1812)

Abstract

Two previously unreported diploid numbers, 2N = 50 and 2N = 51, from five individual Lemur fulvus collaris are described. In both chromosome complements, the nombre fondamental is 64. The 2N = 50 complement is composed of 7 pairs of bi‐armed chromosomes, 17 pairs of acrocentric chromosomes with small short arms, and acrocentric sex chromosomes. The 2N = 51 complement is identical with these exceptions: Only one member equivalent to bi‐armed pair 6 of L. f. collaris (2N = 50) is present, and two extra acrocentrics are found in the 2N = 51 complement. G‐banding analyses suggest that these chromosomes are a heteromorphic pair of the Robertsonian type. This conclusion is supported by evidence from studies of meiotic pairing relationships of the three chromosomes and the complements of hybrids resulting from interspecific matings. Comparison of the 2N = 50 and 2N = 51 complements with a published 2N = 48 complement suggests that these new karyotypes do not provide a lineal link between the 2N = 52 and 2N = 48 karyotypes (Rumpler, Y., and R. Albignac 1969 C. R. Soc. Biol., 163: 1989‐1992).