Comparative chromosome analysis (R- and C-bands) of two South African murid species, Lemniscomys rosalia and Rhabdomys pumilio (Rodentia, Murinae)

We carried out a comparative chromosome analysis (R- and C-bands) on two So uth African murid rodent species, Lemniscomys rosalia and Rhabdomys pumilio , whose banded karyotypes are reported here for the first time. The study r evealed that, in spite of minor differences in diploid number and the numbe r of autosomal arms (48 vs. 46 and 58 vs. 60, respectively), these species differ by at least 10 structural rearrangements, comprising seven Robertson ian translocations (two of which share monobrachial homology), two tandem t ranslocations, and one pericentric inversion. Despite the high level of chr omosomal differentiation observed, almost complete homologous banding patte rns were detected between the two species. The present study therefore stre ngthens the hypothesis about the close phylogenetic affinities between L. r osalia and R. pumilio and their belonging to a set of genera referred to as "arvicanthine" rodents. Copyright (C) 1999 S. Karger AG, Basel.