The chromosomes of the bongo, Taurotragus (Boocerus) eurycerus

Abstract

Chromosome studies on 14 bongos, Taurotragus (Boocerus) eurycerus, disclosed that males have 33 and females 34 chromosomes. The acrocentric Y chromosome is fused to the acrocentric autosome 13. Two X-chromosomal types exist, one a large acrocentric that is identical to that of other tragelaphines, and the other a submetacentric. The latter is produced by the addition of heterochromatin as a new short arm and not, as previously believed, by pericentric inversion. The inheritance of the different X-chromosome morphotypes is followed in one pedigree. Homozygous females for both morphotypes exist and appear to be normal.