G-banded karyotype of the alpine shrew, Sorex alpinus (Mammalia, Soricidae), from the Sumava Mts.

Abstract

The G-banded karyotype of two individuals of the alpine shrew Sorex alpinus collected from the Sumava Mountains (Czech Republic) is presented. The diploid number of chromosomes was 56 and both the morphology and the G- banding pattern of chromosomes appeared to be very similar to those reported from the Alps and the Jura Mountains. This is the first report on the G- banded chromosomes of this species outside Switzerland and eastern France.