Chromosomal evolution in Malagasy lemurs. I. Chromosome banding studies in the genuses Lemur and Micrcebus.

The successive use of several banding methods permitted us to compare the karyotypes of six Malagasy lemurs: Microcebus murinus, Lemur fulvus fulvus, L. f. collaris, L. f. albocollaris, L. macaco, and L. mongoz. A correspondence can be found among all clearly identifiable chromosomes. Based on rearrangements of some of the chromosomes, the karyotype of M. murinus seems to be closest to that of the hypothetical common ancestor. The karyotype of L. f fulvus, which is nearly identical to that of M. murinus, gives rise to those of other forms by several rearrangements.