Karyotype Study of 5 Species of the Family Viverridae in Thailand by High Resolution GTG-Banding Technique

Abstract

As endangered species in Thailand, the wild animal species of the common palm civet (Paradoxurus hermaphrodites), masked palm civet (Paguma larvata), large Indian civet (Viverra zibetha), large-spotted civet (Viverra megaspila), and binturong (Arctictis binturong) were selected for karyological study. Blood samples were taken from 1 male and 1 female of each species. After the standard whole blood lymphocyte culture in the presence of colchicine, the prometaphase spreads were performed on microscopic slides and air-dried. High resolution GTG-banding technique was applied to stain the chromosomes. The results showed that 2n (diploid) of Par. hermaphrodites, Pag. larvata, V. zibetha, V. megaspila and A. binturong were 42, 44, 38, 38, and 42, respectively. The autosomes presence of metacentric, submetacentric, acrocentric and telocentric autosomes were 6-10-14-10, 6-8-12-16, 8-6-18-4, 4-12-16-4 and 6-12-4-18, respectively. The X chromosome were submetacentric, submetacentric, metacentric, submetacentric and metacentric, and the Y chromosome were submetacentric, acrocentric, telocentric, telocentric and acrocentric chromosome, respectively. The numbers of bands in one set of prometaphase haploid chromosomes from the high resolution GTG-banding technique were 233, 262, 198, 222, and 247 bands, respectively and each chromosome pair could be clearly differentiated.