Abstract
The somatic karyotypes of five crocodilian species are described. These species include <i>Caiman sclerops</i> (spectacled caiman or South American alligator, 2N = 42), <i>Alligator mississippiensis</i> (North American alligator, 2N == 32), <i>Crocoa¦ylus porosus</i> (salt-water crocodile, 2N = 34), <i>Crocodylus niloticus</i> (Nile crocodile, 2N = 32), and <i>Tomistoma schlegeli</i> (false gavial, 2N = 32). Metacentric, submetacentric and telocentric chromosomes were observed in all species tested. Satellites were observed on a submetacentric element of <i>A</i>. <i>mississippiensis</i>, and the apparently identical chromosome with an obvious secondary constriction was found in both <i>C</i>. <i>porosus</i> and <i>C</i>. <i>niloticus</i>. No microchromosomes were found. Possible pathways of chromosomal evolution to explain the observed karyotypic relationships are suggested.
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