A Chromosome study of five species of Korean cobitid fish

Abstract

The karyotypes of five cobitid fishes inhabiting South Korea were examined. Four species belonging to the genus Cobitis, viz., C. taenia lutheri, C. koreensis, C. longicorpus and C. rotundicaudata had a diploid chromosome number of 50, consisting of more monoarmed chromosomes than biarmed ones (NF; 64-70), while Misgurnus mizolepis was shown to have 48 chromosomes, suggesting the possibility of a Robertsonian rearrangement (2n=50→ 48, NF; 64) from closely related species (e.g., M. angillicaudatus). With reference to the information so far obtained, the karyotype evolution process in the family Cobitidae was discussed.