A study on the Morphology and Karyology of Nannospalax nehringi (Satunin, 1898) (Rodentia: Spalacidae) from Northeast Anatolia, Turkey

Authors: YÜKSEL COŞKUN

Abstract: Twenty-two (12 males, 10 females) specimens of Nannospalax nehringi, collected from Northeast Anatolia (Turkey), were used for morphological and karyological studies. The specimens from the Kars population have foramina on the premaxillonasal suture. These foramina are absent in the Erzurum, Ağrı and Van populations. The diploid number of chromosomes in the Erzurum and Kars population is 2n = 50. The number of chromosomal arms (NF) is 70 and the number of autosomal arms (NFa) is 66. Their karyotypes consist of nine pairs of metacentric and submetacentric autosomes and 15 pairs of acrocentric autosomes. The Ağrı and Van populations have 2n = 48 chromosomes. The number of chromosomal arms (NF) is 68 and the number of autosomal arms (NFa) is 64. The autosomal set has nine pairs of biarmed, and 14 pairs of acrocentric chromosomes. The X chromosomes are large submetacentric and the Y chromosomes are small acrocentric in all populations. When these results are compared with previous studies, Nannospalax nehringi specimens from Northeast Anatolia have some differences in their skull and chromosome morphology.

Keywords: Rodentia, Spalacidae, Nannospalax nehringi, Morphology, Karyotype, Turkey

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