THE KARYOTYPE AND TAXONOMIC STATUS OF CRYPTOMYS-HOTTENTOTUS-DARLINGI (RODENTIA, BATHYERGIDAE)

Cytogenetic analyses were performed on twenty specimens referable to C ryptomys hottentotus darlingi from north eastern Zimbabwe. In comparis on to the southern subspecies C. h. hottentotus (aFN = 102) and C. h. natalensis (aFN = 1 00), C. h. darlingi showed the same diploid number (2n = 54), but a striking reduction in the fundamental number (aFN = 80). C-banding analysis suggests that chromosome differentiation arose most probably by pericentric inversions. The magnitude of the karyoty pic differences is assumed to represent reproductive isolation and con sequently the specific status for the darlingi cytotype is recommended .