Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Multiple sex-chromosomes in the common Indian Krait, Bungarus caeruleus Schneider

  • Published:
Chromosoma Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The highly poisonous common Indian Krait, Bungarus caeruleus of the family Elapidae has 2n ♂=44 and 2n ♀=43. There is a sharp difference in size between macro and microchromosomes. The number of macrochromosomes is 24 in males and 23 in females whereas there are 20 microchromosomes in both the sexes. The difference in number of macro-chromosomes in the two sexes is explainable on the basis of translocation of a macro-autosome to the W chromosome resulting in a multiple sex-chromosome constitution of Z1Z1Z2Z2♂/Z1Z2W♀-types. Autoradiographic studies using H3-TdR show that the W is late replicating except for the translocated part which finishes its replication along with the macroautosomes. This is the first example of a multiple sex-chromosome complex in a vertebrate with female heterogamety.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Beçak, W.: Constituição cromossomica e mechanismo de determinação do sexo em ofidios sul-Americanos. 1. Aspectos cariotipicos. Mem. Inst. Butantan 32, 37–78 (1965).

    Google Scholar 

  • Bhatnagar, A. N.: Chromosomes of Bungarus caeruleus Schneider (Elapidae: Ophidia). Cytologia (Tokyo) 25, 173–178 (1960a).

    Google Scholar 

  • Levan, A., Fredga, K., Sandberg, A. A.: Nomenclature for centromeric position on chromosomes. Hereditas (Lund) 52, 201–220 (1964).

    Google Scholar 

  • Ray-Chaudhuri, S. P., Singh, L., Sharma, T.: Sexual dimorphism in somatic interphase nuclei of snakes. Cytogenetics (in press).

  • Singh, L., Sharma, T., Ray-Chaudhuri, S. P.: Chromosomes and the classification of snakes of the family Boidae. Cytogenetics 7, 161–168 (1968a).

    Google Scholar 

  • —: W chromosome in the Indian water snake (checkred keel back) Natrix piscator (Colubridae). Experientia (Basel) 24, 79–80 (1968b).

    Google Scholar 

  • - - - Chromosome numbers and sex chromosomes in a few Indian species of amphibia and reptiles. Mammal. Chrom. Newsl. (in press).

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cytogenetics Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi

    L. Singh, T. Sharma & S. P. Ray-Chaudhuri

Authors
  1. L. Singh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. T. Sharma
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. S. P. Ray-Chaudhuri
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Singh, L., Sharma, T. & Ray-Chaudhuri, S.P. Multiple sex-chromosomes in the common Indian Krait, Bungarus caeruleus Schneider. Chromosoma 31, 386–391 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00285830

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00285830

Keywords

Search

Navigation