A COMPARATIVE KARYOTYPE STUDY IN SEVERAL SPECIES OF JAPANESE LOACHES (PISCES, COBITIDAE)

The chromosomes were studied in five species of cobitiid loaches with the application of current air-drying techniques. It was found that Misgurnus anguillicaudatus, Barbatula toni, Lefua nikkonis and Cobitis delicata had the same diploid number of 50. Comparison of karyotypes revealed the chromosome morphology characteristic of each species. In contrast, Cobitis biwae was remarkable by having 96 chromosomes. No evidence for sexual difference of chromosomes was obtained in the species studied here. © 1969, Sage Publications. All rights reserved.