Karyotype evolution in the shrews, Crocidura and Suncus (Soricidae, Insectivora)

Abstract

Chromosomes of the Indian taxon of Crocidura horsfieldi, the Indian house shrew, Suncus murinus and the pigmy shrew, S. etruscus are analysed. The karyotype of C. horsfieldi, has 2n=38 and is compared with the karyotypes of other species of Crocidura. The house shrew, S. murinus has a general karyotype with 2n=40 and the variant karyotypes have 2n=30, 31, 32, and 37. The karyotype of the pigmy shrew, S. etruscus consists of 42 chromosomes. The karyotypes of Crocidura, the general karyotype of S. murinus and that of S. etruscus are compared with each other to understand their cytological nearness. The possible role of pericentric inversions and Robertsonin fusions in the karyotype evolution of different species of the 2 genera are discussed.