COMPARATIVE CHROMOSOMAL STUDY OF 5 TAXA OF GENUS CALLITHRIX, GROUP JACCHUS (PLATYRRHINI, PRIMATES)

The karyotypes of four marmoset species of the Callithrix jacchus grou p (C. aurita, C. kuhlii, C. geoffroyi, and C. penicillata) were invest igated. The patterns of G-, C-, and NOR-bands of these karyotypes were compared with those of C. jacchus, previously described, in order to clarify the taxonomic relationships of this species group. All species present 2n = 46, 14 uni- and 30 biarmed autosomes, a median size subm etacentric X chromosome, and the same NOR-band patterns. No rearrangem ent or constitutive heterochromatic variation differentiate these spec ies, which differ only in the morphology of the Y chromosome. The data obtained indicate that, from the chromosomal point stand, the marmose t species of C. jacchus group constitute a homogeneous clade. (C) 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.