title: The unusual karyotype of the lesser kudu, Tragelaphus imberbis.
abstract: The chromosome set of the lesser kudu, Tragelaphus imberbis, consists of 38 elements in both sexes. In contrast to most other members of the bovid subfamily Tragelaphinae, both the X and the Y chromosomes are compound, having fused with identical autosomes from ancestors presumed to have higher chromosome numbers. From a comparison of the unusual sex chromosomal rearrangements that have occurred in this family, a hypothetical lineage has been derived. This family tree and the details of various banding studies in the lesser kudu are described.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000866:Antelopes / Q000235:genetics*; D001188:Artiodactyla / Q000235:genetics*; D002871:Chromosome Banding; D002875:Chromosomes / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005260:Female; D007621:Karyotyping; D008297:Male; D012730:Sex Chromosomes / Q000648:ultrastructure