The first chromosome characterization of the family Tragulidae 

(Artiodactyla) in Thailand by conventional staining

Bunjongrat, R., Tanomtong, A., Supanuam, P. and Aengwanich, W. 2009. The first chromosome

characterization of the family Tragulidae (Artiodactyla) in Thailand by conventional staining. Songklanakarin Journal of Science and Technology 31: 29-34. [PDF] (SCOPUS Database)

Abstract

         Karyotypes were studied from the family Tragulidae of Thailand, representing a single genus with two species namely; lesser Malay mouse-deer (Tragulus javanicus) and larger Malay mouse-deer (Tragulus napu). Blood samples were taken from the two species kept in Khoa Kheow Open Zoo, Chonburi province and Songkhla Zoo, Songkhla province, Thailand. After standard whole blood lymphocyte culture in presence of colchicine, the metaphase spreads were performed on microscopic slides and air-dried. Conventional Giemsa’s staining was applied to visualize chromosomes. The karyotype of lesser Malay mouse deer showed that diploid chromosome number was 2n=32 and fundamental numbers (NF) were 64 in both female and male. The autosomes consist of 6 large metacentric, 6 large submetacentric, 14 medium metacentric, 2 submetacentric and 2 small metacentric chromosomes. The X chromosome was a large submetacentric chromosome while the Y chromosome was a small metacentric chromosome. For our result, the first karyotypic study of T. napu, the larger Malay mouse-deer, the karyotype shows that diploid chromosome number was 2n=32, and NF were 64 in both female and male. The autosomes consist of 6 large metacentric, 6 large submetacentric, 12 medium metacentric, 2 medium submetacentric, 2 medium acrocentric and 2 small submetacentric chromosomes. The X chromosome was a large submetacentric chromosome while the Y chromosome was the smallest metacentric chromosome.

Keywords: karyotype, Tragulidae, lesser Malay mouse-deer (Tragulus javanicus), larger Malay mouse-deer (Tragulus napu)