Comparative Karyotypic Studies on Three Species of the Subfamily Viverrinae in Thailand

Abstract

Summary Comparative karyotypic studies on 3 species, large-spotted civet (Viverra megaspila), large Indian civet (V. zibetha) and small Indian civet (Viverricular indica) using conventional staining and G-banding patterns were investigated. Blood samples taken from Khao Khiew and Dusit Zoo were examined using lymphocyte culture techniques. The results indicate that the number of diploid chromosome of large-spotted civet, large Indian civet and small Indian civet are 38, 38, and 36, respectively. The fundamental number (NF) are 72 for female and 71 for male, 72 for female, and 70 for female and 69 for male. The type number of autosomes, metacentric, submetacentric, acrocentric and telocentric chromosomes are 10-10-12-4, 10-10-12-4 and 10-12-10-2, respectively. Chromosome pairs 15, 17 and 17 are satellite chromosomes. The X and Y chromosomes are submetacentric and telocentric for large-spotted civet and small Indian civet, whereas. The X and Y chromosome are not known for large Indian civet. In addition, G-banding techniques show that there are 143, 148 and 145 banding patterns which are able to chromosomal classify of these 3 species. Large-spotted civet, large Indian civet and small Indian civet are members of family Viverridae. The family has only 3 subfamilies, 9 genera and 11 species in Thailand. Really, Thailand is a country with high biodiversity, resulting from its varying ecosystems and forests. It has been estimated that there may be up to 100,000 wildlife species in Thailand as well as many unknown plant species. Unfortunately, rushed economic development and social welfare has led to vast destruction of Thailand’s forest and wild life resources. Many wildlife species have become extinct due to loss of habitat, hunting for food, trade and export. One such example is civets, whose numbers are rapidly deteriorating. Masked palm civet, binturong, Asian palm civet and small-toothed palm civet are members of the subfamily Paradoxurinae whereas large-spotted civet, large Indian civet and small Indian civet are members of the subfamily Viverrinae. These civets are in the present rarity. Their situation causes as well great difficulty in obtaining blood samples for cytogenetic studies. Wuster and Benirschke (1967) studied the cytogenetics of masked palm civet, binturong, and Asian palm civet, and their results showed the number of diploid chromosome 44, 42, and 42, respectively. The karyotypes indicate that masked palm civet have 22 metacentrics and submetacentrics, 20 acrocentrics and telocentrics, and metacentric and submetacentrics X and Y chromosomes. Binturong shows NF of 68 for both male and female and karyotypes of 22 metacentrics and submetacentric, 18 acrocentrics and telocentrics, and medium metacentric and small metacentric X and Y chromosomes. Asian palm civet was reported to have NF of 66 for both male and female, X