Chromosome Cytology of Two Lizards,Riopa PunctataGmelin andHemidactylus BrookiGrey

Abstract

The karyotype of Riopa punctata consists of twentyfour chromosomes, consisting of 12 V-shaped, 2 rod-shaped and 10 dot-shaped elements. The fundamental chromosome number is thirtysix. This karyotype presents the smallest number of chromosomes ever reported from the family Scincidae (Lacertilia) and fits in the ‘complexe Scinco-Lacertoide’ formulated by Matthey (1931 and 1949). It also resembles the fourth type of karyotype described by Makino and Momma (1949). The karyotype of Hemidactylus brooki consists of forty chromosomes, consisting of 4 V-shaped, 20 rod-shaped and 16 dot-shaped elements. This karyotype differs from all those hitherto described by various workers for the family Geckonidae. It also does not resemble the karyotypes studied so far for the genus Hemidactylus because the latter do not possess metacentric chromosomes. The fundamental chromosome number is 44.