Karyotypic analysis of three species of Phasianidae (Galliformes: Aves).

The karyology of the partridges Francolinus francolinus asiae (2n = 70) and F. pondicerianus interpositus (2n = 68) and the Japanese quail Coturnix coturnix japonica (2n = 78) was investigated. The frequency distribution of the diploid number of chromosomes was tabulated and the most frequent number was taken to be the diploid number. All species showed a bimodal karyotype and the variation in the number of chromosomes was attributed to the macrochromosomes, although twelve macrochromosomes were present in all the species. Female heterogamety revealed that ZZ male:ZW female sex chromosome mechanism was present. The structure and behaviour of chromosomes during mitosis are described and the evolution of karyotype and cytotaxonomic considerations discussed.