Abstract
Chromosomes were analyzed from 282 field captured and 76 laboratory specimens of the Western Harvest Mouse, Reithrodontomys megalotis. The supernumerary chromosomes found in this species varied from 0 to 7 causing a variation in diploid number of from 42 to 49 with the modal class being 2n=44. The relative frequency of various numbers varied between populations, which were taken from Arizona, California, Nebraska, New Mexico and Utah. Laboratory breeding experiments and cytological evidence indicate differences in the rate of non-disjunction is responsible for interpopulational variation. A hypothesis is suggested to explain this variation as it relates to the evolution and zoogeography of the species.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Blanks, G. A., and H. S. Shellhammer: Chromosome polymorphism in California populations of harvest mice. J. Mamm. 49, 726–731 (1968).
Bosemark, N. O.: On accessory chromosomes in Festuca pratensis. III. Frequency and geographical distribution of plants with accessory chromosomes. Hereditas (Lund) 42, 189–210 (1956).
—: On accessory chromosomes in Festuca pratensis, V. Influence of accessory chromosomes in fertility and vegetative development. Hereditas (Lund) 43, 211–235 (1957a).
—: Further studies on accessory chromosomes in grasses. Hereditas (Lund) 42, 443–466 (1957b).
Ford, O. E., and J. L. Hamerton: A colchicine, hypotonic-citrate, squash sequence for mammalian chromosomes. Stain Technol. 31, 247–251 (1956).
Frost, S.: Studies of the genetical effects of accessory chromosomes in Centaurea scabiosa. Hereditas (Lund) 44, 112–122 (1958).
Gustavsson, I., and C. O. Sundt: Chromosome elimination in the evolution of the silver fox. J. Hered. 58, 75–78 (1957).
Hayman, D. L., and P. G. Martin: Supernumerary chromosomes in the marsupial Schoinobates volans (Kerr). Austr. J. biol. Sci. 18, 1081–1082 (1965).
Hooper, E. T.: A systematic review of the harvest mice (genus Reithrodontomys) of Latin America. Misc. Publ. Mus. Zool., U. Michigan, No 77, 1–255 (1952).
Melander, Y.: Accessory chromosomes in animals, especially in Polycelis tennis. Hereditas (Lund) 29, 91–112 (1950).
Moore, W., Jr., and R. E. Elder: Chromosomes of the fox. J. Hered. 56, 142–143 (1965).
Müntzing, A.: Genetical effects of duplicated fragment chromosomes in rye. Hereditas (Lund) 29, 91–112 (1943).
—: A new category of chromosomes. Proc. Xth Int. Congr. Genetics 1, 453–476 (1958).
Scherz, R. G.: Blaze-drying, by igniting the fixative, for improved spreads of chromosomes in leucocytes. Stain Technol. 37, 386 (1962).
Shellhammer, H. S.: Cytotaxonomic studies of the harvest mice of the San Francisco Bay region. J. Mamm. 48, 549–556 (1967).
White, M. J. D.: Animal cytology and evolution. Cambridge: University Press 1954.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Shellhammer, H.S. Supernumerary chromosomes of the harvest mouse, Reithrodontomys megalotis . Chromosoma 27, 102–108 (1969). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00326114
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00326114