KARYOMETRICAL ANALYSIS OF MICROSOMACANTHUS-SPASSKII AND M-SPIRALIBURSATA

Analysis of Giemsa-stained mitotic metaphase plates of Microsomacanthu s spasskii and M spiralibursata (Cestoda:Hymenolepididae) revealed the diploid chromosome numbers for both species to be 2n = 6. The karyoty pes are remarkably similar in general morphology; they both consist of three pairs of metacentric or meta-submetacentric chromosomes graded in size from 4.3 to 7.0 mum. Slight interspecific differences exist in the position of the centromere of chromosomes of the pair 3. Based on existing chromosome data the possible pathways of the karyotypic evol ution within the family Hymenolepididae are discussed.