Abstract
Summary
Mitotic chromosomes of several North American Sciuridae have been analyzed. The diploid chromosome number was 32 in Ammospermophilus harrisii harrisii and Ammospermophilus leucurus leucurus, 34 in Spermophilus richardsonii elegans and Spermophilus mexicanus parvidens, 38 in Spermophilus beecheyi douglasii, 42 in Spermophilus Interalis lateralis and 46 in Tamiasciarus hudsonicus fremonti.
Chromosome number and morphology were analyzed and found to support the present classification of Sciuridae. A large terminal sex chromosome, probably the Y chromosome, was found in examples of Ammospermophilus and Spermophilus, and suggested a similarity between these genera. The usefulness of these mammals for cytogenetic studies, especially A. harrisii harrisii, was described.
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