A CYTOGENETIC STUDY OF THE CRAYFISH PROCAMBARUS-DIGUETI (BOUVIER, 1897) (DECAPODA, CAMBARIDAE) FROM LAKE CAMECUARO, MICHOACAN, MEXICO

This work was carried out to determine and describe the karyology and the ideogram of the crayfish, Procambarus digueti. A new technique for the cytogenetic study of freshwater Decapoda was adapted for these in vestigations. For P. digueti, the fundamental chromosome number is f.n . = 204, with a diploid number 2n = 102. The chromosomal formula is 35 mediocentrics (M), 15 metacentrics (m), and one submetacentric (St). We discuss the usefulness of cytogenetic methodology in discriminating closely related taxa, and, also, as a tool for supporting existing ta xonomic criteria.