Karyotypic variation in rhinolophid and hipposiderid bats (Chiroptera: Rhinolophidae, Hipposideridae)

According to current phylogenetic hypotheses, the bats of the families Rhinolophidae and Hipposideridae are sister groups nested within the clade of Pteropodiformes. A conservative nature of karyotypic evolution was previously reported within the two families. Karyotypes with diploid number (2n) varying between 58 and 62 chromosomes were assumed to prevail among the rhinolophid species, whereas, karyotypes with 32 chromosomes were found in most of the hipposiderid bats. However, divergent lower or higher 2n numbers have been recorded in some species in both families. Variation is documented in the present paper by examination of non-differentially stained karyotypes in 10 species belonging to genera Rhinolophus and Hipposideros from western Africa and southern India. Among the species studied, the karyotypes with a 2n of 32, 36, 52, 56, 58, and 62, and with relatively stable number of autosomal arms (FNa = 60, 62, 64) were recorded.

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