Skip to main content
Log in

Chromosomal evolution in serpentes; a comparison of G and C chromosome banding patterns of some colubrid and boid genera

  • Published:
Chromosoma Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

G and C-chromosome banding techniques have been used to compare the structure of the karyotype in a variety of colubrid and boid snakes. The comparison of G-band patterns indicates that while some band sequences have been conserved, either as whole chromosomes or entire arms, there is also evidence of considerable rearrangement especially in the smaller chromosomes. In the colubrid Elaphe subocularis there is also evidence that there has been a relocation of the centromere on chromosome 2 without any accompanying inversion in the sequence of G-bands. Finally, G-banding has facilitated the demonstration of a simple pericentric inversion distinguishing the Z and W chromosomes in Acrantophis dumereli. This represents the first report of differentiated sex chromosomes in a boid snake. The combined banding data thus indicates that snake chromosomes are certainly not lacking in variability. The use of C-banding to detect constitutive heterochromatin has confirmed that in some boids and colubrids macrochromosomes have been derived from microchromosomes by the additions of heterochromatin.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Baker, R.J., Bull, J.J., Mengden, G.A.: Chromosomes of Elaphe subocularis (Reptilia: Serpentes), with the description of an in vivo technique for preparation of snake chromosomes. Experientia (Basel) 27, 1208–1229 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Baker, R.J., Mengden, G.A., Bull, J.J.: Karyotypic studies of thirty-eight species of North American snakes. Copeia (Wash.) 2, 257–265 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Beçak, W., Beçak, M.L.: Cytotaxonomy and chromosomal evolution in Serpentes. Cytogenetics 8, 247–262 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mascarello, J.T., Stock, A.D., Pathak, S.: Conservatism in the arrangement of genetic material in rodents. J. Mammal. 55, 695–704 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • McDowell, S.B.: A catalogue of the snakes of New Guinea and the Solomons, with special reference to those in the Bernice P. Bishop Museum. Part II. Anilioidea and Pythoninae. J. Herp. 9 (1), 1–79 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Pathak, S., Stock, A.D.: The X chromosome of mammals: Karyological homology as revealed by banding techniques. Genetics 78, 703–714 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ray-Chaudhuri, S.P., Singh, L.: DNA replication patterns in sex chromosomes of snakes. Nucleus (Calcutta) 15, 200–210 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Rothfels, K.H., Freeman, M.: Salivary gland chromosomes of three North American species of Twinnia (Diptera: Simuliidae). Canad. J. Zool. 44, 937–945 (1965)

    Google Scholar 

  • Seabright, M.: The use of Proteolytic enzymes for mapping of structural rearrangements in chromosomes of man. Chromosoma (Berl.) 36, 204–210 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Shiraishi, Y., Yosida, T.H.: Banding pattern analysis of human chromosomes by use of a urea treatment technique. Chromosoma (Berl.) 37, 75–83 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Stefos, K., Arrighi, F.E.: Heterochromatic nature of the W chromosome in birds. Exp. Cell Res. 68, 228–231 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Stock, A.D.: Karyological relationships in turtles (Reptilia, Chelonia). Canad. J. Genet. Cytol. 14, 859–869 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Stock, A.D., Mengden, G.A.: Chromosome banding pattern conservatism in birds and nonhomology of chromosome banding patterns between birds, turtles, snakes and amphibians. Chromosoma (Berl.) 50, 69–77 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Stock, A.D., Arrighi, F.E., Stefos, K.: Chromosome homology in birds; banding patterns of the chromosomes of the domestic chicken, ring-necked dove and domestic pigeon. Cytogenet. Cell Genet. 13, 410–418 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Mengden, G.A., Stock, A.D. Chromosomal evolution in serpentes; a comparison of G and C chromosome banding patterns of some colubrid and boid genera. Chromosoma 79, 53–64 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00328472

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00328472

Keywords

Navigation