Karyotypes of Taiwanese and Japanese bats belonging to the families Rhinolophidae and Hipposideridae.

Abstract

Karyotypes of four Taiwanese and two Japanese species belonging to three genera, Rhinolophus, Hipposideros and Coelops, are studied. Considering their phylogenetic relationships based on the morphological evidence, the chief mechanism of karyotypic alteration within Rhinolophus would be able to explain by centric fusion. On the other hand, the karyotype with 2n=32 and FN=60 in Hipposideros appears to be formed by extensive centric fusion of the uniarmed autosomal member such as that of R. cornutus or R. monoceros. It is possible to assume that the autosomal composition in C. frithi (2n=30, FN=58) is built up by pericentric inversion and subsequent centric fusion of a small M·SM-autosomal one in Hipposideros; further, the ST-Y chromosome in this species is perhaps due to the result of pericentric inversion of the A-Y one in Hipposideros.