ADVANCES IN CHROMOSOMAL STUDIES OF GASTROPOD MOLLUSCS

Abstract

Chromosomal studies of gastropods have greatly increased since previous published reviews. This paper provides chromosomal information gathered since 1970 for the Caenogastropoda and Heterobranchia, since 1978 for the Heterobranchia:Pulmonata and since 1986 for taxa of the `traditional' Archaeogastropoda. Out of 291 gastropod species reported here with known chromosome numbers, 243 species have been newly investigated since previous reviews. Karyotypes are reported for 207 species, with banding techniques performed on 27 species. This highlights the increased knowledge on gastropod chromosomal morphology during the last decades. The occurrence of sex chromosomes and of polyploidy is also reported in the studied species. Chromosomal data are discussed in the light of previous reviews and of recent molecular phylogenies.