Karyotype of the Hawksbill Turtle, Eretmochelys imbricata, from Japan, with Notes on a Method for Preparation of Chromosomes from Liver Cells

Abstract

The karyotype of the hawksbill turtle, Eretmochelys imbricata, from Japan was obtained from liver cells. This species has 2n=56 homologous chromosomes forming a graded series. Comparison of the present karyotype with those of other cheloniids confirms the strong chromosomal conservativeness within the family. Methodological novelities of the present study are also discussed.