Cytogenetic Study of Three Species of Rodents from Ile-Ife South-Western Nigeria
M.O. Awodiran¹, J.O. Igbokwe¹, M. A. Akintoye¹ and A. O. Olayemi²
¹Department of Zoology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria
²Natural History Museum, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria
Abstract
Cytogenetic analysis is one major tool useful for unravelling rodent diversity. Although in Nigeria interesting rodent diversity is currently being uncovered through molecular analyses, the cytogenetic aspects of this diversity are still largely unknown. In this study diploid number and chromosome morphology viewed on Giemsa-stained slides for three rodent species trapped in Obafemi Awolowo University Campus are reported. One of the specimens was also sequenced for Cytochrome b to assist in making accurate taxonomic designations. To our knowledge, chromosomal information is presented for two of these small mammal species (Cricetomys gambianus, Cavia spp.) for the first time from populations within South Western Nigeria. The diploid numbers detected in this study for Cricetomys gambianus (2n=64) differ from diploid numbers published for these species from other locations in previous studies and this raises a possibility of yet to be identified rodent diversity in the present area of study. Cytogenetic data combined with other lines of scientific evidence will help us appreciate and understand more the bountiful diversity of small mammals across Nigeria.