Chromosomal Studies of Four Egyptian Marine Species of the Families Pteriidae and Arcidae (Bivalvia-Mollusca).

Abstract

Summary The cytotaxonomical characteristics of the four species Pinctada margaritifera (Linne 1758), P radiata (Leach 1814), Barbatia fusca (Bruguiere 1789), B. tenella (Reeve 1844) were studied using karyotype analysis. The diploid chromosome numbers of these four species are 28 (FN=48), 26 (FN=44), 38 (FN=42) and 36 (FN=44) respectively. The karyotype of Pinctada margaritifera is consisting of five pairs metacentric, two pairs submetacentric, three pairs subtelocentric and four pairs acrocentric chromosomes; while the karyotype of Pinctada radiata composed of five pairs metacentric, two pairs submetacentric, two pairs subtelocentric and four pairs acrocentric chromosomes; Barbatia fusca have karyotype containing of two pairs metacentric and seventeen pairs acrocentric chromosomes and; the karyotype of Barbatia tenella contains of four pairs metacentric and fourteen pairs acrocentric chromosomes. To the best of author knowledge, these results are reported for the first time in Egypt.