Chromosomes and serum proteins of the Utah Prairie Dog, Cynomys parvidens (Sciuridae)
Pizzimenti JJ and Nadler CF. 1972. Chromosomes and serum proteins of the Utah Prairie Dog, Cynomys parvidens (Sciuridae). The Southwest Naturalist. 17(3):279-286
Serum proteins and chromosomes were examined for specimens of Cynomys parvidens from five localities throughout the range. C. parvidens possesses a diploid number of 50 chromosomes and a karyotype similar to that of the white-tailed prairie dog (C. leucurus), differing by three non-Robersonian changes. Electrophoresis of serum transferrins reveals a single slow-moving band (Tf 5), which has the same electrophoretic mobility as that in C. leucurus. The serum albumin of C. parvidens is electrophoretically identical to the albumins of C. leucurus and C. gunnisoni. Combined evidence from karyology, serology, morphology, and zoogeography supports the concept that C. parvidens and C. leucurus are closely related species and once may have belonged to a single interbreeding population.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Pizzimenti, John; Nadler, Charles
- Units
- BRCA
- Keywords
- albumin, Animal Studies, Chromosomes, Colorado Plateau, Genetics, Gunnison's prairie dog (Cynomys gunnisoni), interbreeding population, karyotype, Mammals, Microbiology, Rodent (Rodentia), Sevier County Utah, Threatened-Endangered-Sensitive Animals, Utah Prairie Dog (Cynomys parvidens), white-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys leucurus)