title: A new karyotype for the spiny rat Clyomys laticeps (Thomas, 1909) (Rodentia, Echimyidae) from Central Brazil.
abstract: Clyomys Thomas, 1916 is a semifossorial rodent genus of spiny rats represented by only one species, Clyomys laticeps, which inhabits the tropical savannas and grasslands of central Brazil and eastern Paraguay. Here we describe a new karyotype of Clyomys laticeps found in populations of Emas National Park, Goiás state, Brazil. The four analyzed specimens had a diploid number (2n) of 32 and a fundamental autosome number (FN) of 54. Cytogenetic data include conventional staining, CBG and GTG-banding. The karyotype presents 12 meta/submetacentric pairs (1 to 12) and 3 pairs of acrocentrics (13 to 15) with gradual decrease in size. The X chromosome is a medium submetacentric and the Y is a medium acrocentric. The semifossorial habits together with habitat specificity could have contributed to the karyological variations found on this genus.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade de Brasília, Campus Darcy Ribeiro, Asa Norte, 70910-900, Brasília, DF, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alexandra M R
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Bezerra
authors.forename: Juliana M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Pagnozzi
authors.forename: Ana Paula
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Carmignotto
authors.forename: Yatiyo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yonenaga-Yassuda
authors.forename: Flávio H G
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
keywords: Cerrado; Clyomys; Echimyidae; cytogenetic; semifossorial habit; taxonomy