CYTOGENETIC PROPERTIES OF 9 SPECIES OF GOLDEN MOLES (INSECTIVORA, CHRYSOCHLORIDAE)

Standard karyotypes and the location of nucleolar organizer regions are reported for nine species of chrysochlorids representing five genera (Amblysomus, Calcochloris, Chlorotalpa, CHrysochloris, and Chrysospalax). Intraspecific karyotypic variation is negligible except in Amblysomus hottentotus, which displays three allopatric cytotypes characterized by differences in diploid number (30, 34, 36) and fundamental number (56, 60, 62, 68) as well as the number and location of nucleolar organizer regions. With the exception of Calcochloris, a monotypic genus with 2n = 28, most genera display 2n = 30, but differ in fundamental number and locations of nucleolar organizer regions. Evidence that the three cytotypes in A. hottentotus represent distinct biological species is presented. Cladistic relationships based on chromosomal properties support the recognition of Chlorotalpa and Calcochloris as discrete genera and the subgeneric recognition of the taxon Neamblysomus for the species A. (N.) gunningi and A. (N.) julianae. Limited banding studies indicate that centric fissions, tandem fusions, pericentric inversions, and heterochromatic additions may have played a role in the chromosomal evolution of chrysochlorids. Karyotypic evolution in the Chrysochloridae appears to be similar in mode and tempo to that in other fossorial Insectivora, in contrast to subterranean rodents, which are characterized by greater chromosomal diversity and karyotypic orthoselection.