Karyotype of the sea-turtle Dermochelys coriacea (Vandelli, 1761)

Abstract

Chromosomes of Dermochelys coriacea were prepared from kidney, spleen and lung cells of three neonates hatched from eggs incubated at 26.5 ± 0.5° C (a temperature yielding 100% phenotypic males). A study of the karyotype shows a diploid number of 56 chromosomes consisting of 14 meta- and submetacentrics, 10 telo- and subtelocentrics, and 32 microchromosomes. This karyotype, which is similar to those previously described for Cheloma mydas, Caretia caretta, and Eretmochelys imbricata, has been considered to be primitive for cryptodiran turtles. The implication of our results for the phylogenetic classification of Dermochelys coriacea is discussed. © 1987, Brill. All rights reserved.