title: Chromosomal evolution in the vlei rat, Otomys irroratus (Muridae: Otomyinae): a compound chromosomal rearrangement separates two major cytogenetic groups.
abstract: G- and C-banding delimits two cytogenetic groups within the vlei rat, Otomys irroratus. One has a diploid number of 2n = 24, resulting from a centric fusion of chromosomes 7 and 12 of the O. irroratus standard coupled with a tandem fusion to chromosome 8. The second has a diploid number of 2n = 28, lacks the compound chromosome, and appears to have a far wider geographic distribution within South Africa. Additionally, the two groups differ through the presence of cytotype-specific heterozygous centric fusions and one to three B chromosomes which appear as floating polymorphisms in the 2n = 28 complex.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch , South Africa.
authors.forename: R V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Rambau
authors.forename: F F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Elder
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Robinson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002871:Chromosome Banding; D002875:Chromosomes / Q000235:genetics*; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D005347:Fibroblasts; D007621:Karyotyping; D009115:Muridae / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D011995:Recombination, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D013019:South Africa