CHROMOSOME-BANDING ANALYSIS OF 2 SHREWS OF THE CINEREUS GROUP - SOREX-HAYDENI AND SOREX-CINEREUS (INSECTIVORA, SORICIDAE)

The chromosomes of Sorer haydeni are described for the first time and their banding pattern (R- and C-bands) compared with that of Sorer cin ereus. The karyotype of S. haydeni differs from that of S. cinereus in its diploid (64 vs. 66) and fundamental numbers (66 vs. 70). These di fferences are the result of one tandem translocation and one pericentr ic inversion. The size and form of the Y chromosomes are also quite di fferent in these taxa. The karyotypic differences strongly support the status of independent species, proposed for these taxa earlier on the basis of gross morphological characters.