title: Evidence for two karyotypic variants of the lesser horseshoe bat ( Rhinolophus hipposideros , Chiroptera, Mammalia) in Central Europe.
abstract: Three different diploid chromosome numbers (2n = 54, 56 and 58) have been reported in the lesser horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus hipposideros. Asia Minor and the Middle East are inhabited by R. hipposideros specimens with 58 chromosomes. In Europe, specimens with 56 chromosomes have been recorded from several localities in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Italy and Greece. Up to now, specimens with 54 chromosomes have been reported only from Spain and possibly from Switzerland. With the record of 54 chromosomes in specimens from Germany presented here, the distributional area of this variant is expanded into Central Europe. According to the cytogenetic data presently available, we presume that the European R. hipposideros population is divided into a western form (from Spain to Germany) with a 2n = 54 karyotype and an eastern form (from the Czech Republic to Greece) with a 2n = 56 karyotype. This study presents banded karyotypes for the 2n = 54 and 2n = 56 variants for the first time. In addition, chromosomal arm homology to the vespertilionid bat species Myotis myotis revealed by chromosome painting is reported. Whether the variants could represent separate species is also discussed.
authors: Department of Human Genetics, Otto von Guericke University, DE–39120 Magdeburg, Germany. Marianne.Volleth@med.ovgu.de
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Volleth
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Biedermann
authors: W
authors: W
authors: Schorcht
authors: K-G
authors: KG
authors: Heller
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002685:Chiroptera / Q000235:genetics*; D020223:Chromosome Painting; D033481:Chromosomes, Mammalian / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D018153:Czech Republic; D005060:Europe; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005828:Genetics, Population / Q000379:methods; D005858:Germany; D006570:Heterochromatin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D059785:Karyotype; D008297:Male; D008677:Metaphase; D009697:Nucleolus Organizer Region / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D016622:Silver Staining; D014960:X Chromosome / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014998:Y Chromosome / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D006570:Heterochromatin