KARYOTYPIC PATTERNS OF 7 SPECIES OF MOLOSSID BATS (MOLOSSIDAE, CHIROPTERA)

G- and C- banding patterns of seven species of the bat family Molossid ae, Eumops glaucinus, E. perotis; Molossops abrasus, M. remminckii, Mo lossus ater, M. molossus, and Nyctinomops laticaudatus, were identifie d. Comparisons among the karyotypes of these species showed extensive homologies between E. perotis, M. ater, M. molossus, M. abrasus, and N . laticaudatus, demonstrating inter- and intrageneric conservatism, an d a lesser degree of homologies in M. temminckii and glaucinus, reflec ting intrageneric variation, Chromosomal variation was due to inversio ns, Robertsonian rearrangements, translocations, and variations in the location of constitutive heterochromatin and nucleolus organizer regi ons. The chromosome corresponding to No. 5 in the M. ater karyotype is discussed. We suggest that the Nyctinomops and Molossops karyotypes r epresent the primitive condition and that Molossus and Eumops have der ived karyotypes.