Chromosomal evolution of 19 species of sub-species of Cercopithecinae.

Chromosome analysis by handling techniques of 19 species and sub-species of Cercopithecinae shows an important accumulation of chromosome rearrangements (51). With a clear predominance of fissions (26) and of inversions (17). It is impossible to reconstruct a simple genealogy of these species because chromosomal evolution did not follow the principle of a strict dichotomy. The progressive increase of the number of chromosomes, by fission, corresponds to the inverse of the Robertsonian evolution and suggests the existence of numerous interstitial centromeres and telomeres.