STUDIES ON THE CHROMOSOMES OF YUNNAN HARE (LEPUS COMUS)

The karyotype of Yunnan hare (Lepus comus) has been studied by banding techniques (G-, C-banding) and silver staining. The number of diploid chromosome is 48, autosomes consist of 6 pairs of metacentrics, 5 pairs of submetacentrics, 10 pairs of subtelocentrics and 2 pairs acrobentrics. X is a larger submetacentric. And very faint secondary constrictions is found on pairs 17, 19, 21. The G-banded, C-banded and silver-stained karyotypes have been observed. The chromosomal homologies of genus Lepus are high by comparing their G-banded karyotypes. The centromeric heterochromatin is found in all chromosomes except Nos. 9,14, 16, 20, whereas the centromeric C-bands of Nos. 13, 15, 18 are very fanitly stained. The sequential studies of conventional and silver-stained karyotypes show Ag-NORs at the faint secondary constrictions of Nos. 17, 19, 21. The Polymorphism of Ag-NORs of No.21 is found. And the karyotype evolution of Leporides has been discussed by comparison with other species.