CHROMOSOMES OF DAMALISCUS (ARTIODACTYLA, BOVIDAE) - SIMPLE AND COMPLEX CENTRIC FUSION REARRANGEMENTS

G- and C-banded karyotypes of Damaliscus hunteri, D. lunatus and D. py gargus were compared using the standard karyotype of Bos taurus. Chrom osomal complements were 2n = 36 in D. lunatus jimela, 2n = 38 in D. py gargus phillipsi and D. p. pygargus, and 2n = 44 in D. hunteri. The fu ndamental number in all karyotypes was SO. Among the three species of Damaliscus, seven autosomal pairs and the X chromosomes were conserved . Y-chromosome differences were attributed to heterochromatic addition s or deletions. Banded karyotypes of the two subspecies of D. pygargus exhibited complete homology. Chromosomal complements of D. pygargus a nd D. lunatus differed by a simple centric fusion. However, karyotypes of D. pygargus and D. lunatus differed from D, hunteri by numerous ce ntric fusions, several of which were related by monobrachial chain com plexes. Between the karyotypes of D. hunteri and D, pygargus or D. lun atus, there were two chain complexes, one involving five chromosomes ( chain V) and the other involving 12 in pygargus (chain XII) or 13 in l unatus (chain XIII). There were also two simple centric fusions betwee n D. hunteri and D. lunatus/D. pygargus; acrocentric chromosomes 13,15 , 20 and 22 in D. hunteri were fused as 13;15 and 20;22 in D. lunatus and D. pygargus.