RESUMEN
The order of Carnivora has been very well characterized with over 50 species analyzed by chromosome painting and with painting probe sets made for 9 Carnivora species. Representatives of almost all families have been studied with few exceptions (Otariidae, Odobenidae, Nandiniidae, Prionodontidae). The patterns of chromosome evolution in Carnivora are discussed here. Overall, many Carnivora species retained karyotypes that only slightly differ from the ancestral carnivore karyotype. However, there are at least 3 families in which the ancestral carnivore karyotype has been severely rearranged - Canidae, Ursidae and Mephitidae. Here we report chromosome painting of yet another Carnivora species with a highly rearranged karyotype, Genetta pardina. Recurrent rearrangements make it difficult to define the ancestral chromosomal arrangement in several instances. Only 2 species of pangolins (Pholidota), a sister order of Carnivora, have been studied by chromosome painting. Future use of whole-genome sequencing data is discussed in the context of solving the questions that are beyond resolution of conventional banding techniques and chromosome painting.
Asunto(s)
Carnívoros/clasificación , Carnívoros/genética , Animales , Canidae/clasificación , Canidae/genética , Gatos , Pintura Cromosómica , Cromosomas de los Mamíferos/genética , Perros , Evolución Molecular , Felidae/clasificación , Felidae/genética , Femenino , Humanos , Cariotipo , Masculino , Mephitidae/clasificación , Mephitidae/genética , Mustelidae/clasificación , Mustelidae/genética , Filogenia , Procyonidae/clasificación , Procyonidae/genética , Especificidad de la Especie , Ursidae/clasificación , Ursidae/genética , Viverridae/clasificación , Viverridae/genéticaRESUMEN
Skunks usually are identified by their common name (skunk) when submitted for rabies testing. In the desert southwest (Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, USA; and northern Mexico), there are five species of skunks; four of which can occur in sympatry. To better understand the ecology of skunk rabies in these areas, it is imperative that species be properly identified. We used the displacement loop (d-loop) of the mitochondrial genome to identify to species 24 skunk brain samples submitted for rabies testing in New Mexico from 2001 to 2002. Most were identified as striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis), but hooded (Mephitis macroura) and hog-nosed (Conepatus leuconotus) skunks were also found.