Abstract
The C- and G-banded karyotypes of five species of waxbill finches belonging to the Estrildidae were examined. Extensive chromosomal variation including inversions and fissions was found to differentiate the species, showing the waxbills to be the most chromosomally diverse group of estrildid finches. None of the variation, however, matched that recorded in related species of Pytilia (Christidis, 1983). By comparing the G-banded karyotypes of species belonging to all three estrildid lineages it was possible to reconstruct the presumed ancestral karyotype for the Estrildidae as a whole. This was found to approximate the karyotype of the Australian peophilid species, Poephila guttata most closely. From it chromosomal relationships within the three estrildid lineages, Poephilae, Lonchurae, Estrildae, can be determined.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Christidis, L., 1983. Extensive chromosomal repattering in two congeneric species: Pytilia melba, L. and Pytilia phoenicoptera Swainson (Estrildidae; Aves). Cytogenet. Cell Genet. 36: 641–648.
Christidis, L., 1986. Chromosomal evolution within the family Estrildidae (Aves). I.. The Poephilae. Genetica 71: 81–97.
Christidis, L., 1986. Chromosomal evolution within the family Estrildidae (Aves). II. The Lonchurae. Genetica 71: 99–113.
Christidis, L., In press, b. Chromosomal evolution within the family Estrildidae (Aves). II. The Lonchurae. Genetica.
Christidis, L., In press, c. Biochemical systematics and evolution of paleotropic finches, Estrildidae, Auk.
Delaeour, J., 1943. A revision of the subfamily Estrildinae of the family Ploceldae. Zoologica 28: 69–86.
Mayr, E., Paynter, R. A.Jr. & Traylor, M. A., 1968. Family Estrildidae. pp. 306–389 in Check-list of birds of the World. Vol. 14 (R. A.Paynter, ed). Mus, Comp. Zool., Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Ray-Chaudhuri, R., 1973. Cytotaxonomy and chromosome evolution in birds. pp. 425–483. In Cytotaxonomy and vertebrate evolution (A. B.Chiarelli & E.Capanna, eds). Academic Press New York.
Ray-Chaudhuri, R., 1976. Cytotaxonomy and chromosome evelution in Passeriformes (Aves): A comparative study of seventeen species. Z. Zool. Syst. Evol.Forsch 14: 299–320.
Takagi, N., 1972. A comparative study of the chromosome replication in 6 species of birds. Jap. J. Geneties 47: 115–123.
Wolters, H. E., 1966. On the relationships and generic limits of African Estrildinae. Ostrich Supp. 6: 75–81.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Christidis, L. Chromosomal evolution within the family Estrildidae (Aves) III. The Estrildae (waxbill finches). Genetica 72, 93–100 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00123167
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00123167