Karyotypes and systematics of Asian high-mountain voles, genus Alticola (Rodentia, Arvicolidae). Results of Mongolian-German biological expeditions since 1962, No. 211.

Six species/subspecies of Asian high-mountain voles, genus Alticola, were studied cytogenetically via conventional staining and C- and G-banding. The karyotypes are very similar. The standard karyotype, as in A. strelzovi strelzovi, consists of 56 chromosomes. These are split into 25 acrocentric pairs, one large subtelocentric pair, one small metacentric pair, a large acrocentric X chromosome, and a small Y chromosome, which varies in shape. Constitutive heterochromatin is almost entirely restricted to small centromeric regions. A small submetacentric pair of autosomes in both subspecies of A. semicanus and a medium-sized Y chromosome in A. argentatus severtzovi are of importance in systematics. The data suggest that A. barakshin, A. semicanus, and A. argentatus are separate species.