CHROMOSOME STUDY OF YELLOW-THROATED MARTEN (MARTES FLAV1GULA)

The karyotype of Martes flavigula, captured from the west of Yunnan, has been studied from chromosome preparations of culture fibroblastes and bone marrow cells. The number of diploid chromosome is 40. Autosomes consist of 5 pairs of metacentri-cs, 7 pairs of submetacentrics, 4 pairs of subtelocentrics and 3 pairs of telocentrics.X is a metacentric chromosome. The G-banded, C-banded and silver-stained karyotypes have been observed. The results show that the centromeric distribution of heterochromatin is demonstrated in all chromosomes except one chromsome of No.14. No.19 and the long arms of No.8 are completely C-band positive. The termina of No.11 and No. 13 chromosomes is with heterochromatin. Ag-NORs are located at the secondary constriction of No.15. By means of comparing M. ftavigula with M. foina, M.martes and Mustela sibir-ica in G-banded, C-banded and silved-stained karyotypes, we think that M. flarigula should be a subgenus of Martes, moreover, M. flavigula is a specialized species.