Abstract
We have examined the chromosomes of Hynobius takedai. The karyotype (2n=56) is characterized by the absence of a medium-sized telocentric pair and, in this respect, H. takedai resembles the forms from northeastern Japan (H. lichenatus from Iwate Pref., H. nigrescens, and northern populations of H. tokyoensis) but differs from southwestern forms (H. abei, H. nebulosus and southern population of H. tokyoensis). H. takedai is also distinct from all previously studied species in the presence of 6 meta- or submetacentric and 9 telocentric microchromosome pairs. Karyotypic relationships among forms of the lichenatus and nebulosus groups are discussed.
