抄録
Chromosomes of the Ryukyu house shrew Suncus murinus riukiuanus, were studied in 4 laboratory-bred specimens. While the autosomal constitution was almost identical with that of the Ryukyu house shrew so far reported, the sex chromosomes remarkably differed in size and morphology from those of reported cases. Three different types of the X chromosomes were distinguished: (1) a metacentric one, (2) a submetacentric one smaller than the first type, and (3) a metacentric one which was equal in size to that of the second type. The Y was represented by a medium-sized metacentric element. C-banding revealed that the amount and distribution of constitutive hetero-chromatin (C-heterochromatin) in the sex chromosomes were different from those hitherto reported. The possible participation of C-heterochromatin in the sex chromosome variation in Suncus murinus is discussed.
