Paper

The karyotype of the Iberian imperial eagle (Aquila adalberti) analyzed by classical and DNA replication banding
J.A. Padilla, M. Martinez-Trancón, A. Rabasco, J.L. Fernández-García

Genética y Mejora Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Extremadura. Cáceres (Spain)

Address of Corresponding Author

Cytogenet Cell Genet 1999;84:61-66 (DOI: 10.1159/000015216)

  Abstract.

We report here for the first time the karyotype of the Iberian imperial eagle (Aquila adalberti). All eagles examined had a diploid number of 82 chromosomes and a greater number of microchromosomes (12 pairs) than has been found in all other species of the Accipitridae family. This karyotypic evidence corroborates the recent separation of A. adalberti from A. heliaca on the basis of molecular data. RB-FPG banding induced a specific banding pattern that allowed us to identify homologous chromosome pairs and revealed features about late and early replicating regions. Several chromosome banding techniques (C-, CMA₃-, and restriction endonuclease banding and silver staining) were used to characterize the karyotype more accurately. Two GC-rich, late-replicating heterochromatin regions were found in the W chromosome. These regions are AluI resistant and can be used for sex determination in this species. All microchromosomes were heterochromatic, GC rich, and late replicating. Silver staining revealed active nucleolus organizing regions on a pair of microchromosomes that were entirely heterochromatic and stained intensely after CMA₃-banding. Different chromosome rearrangements are discussed in order to establish the phylogenetic relationship between A. adalberti and its most closely related species, A. heliaca.

  Author Contacts

Request reprints from Dr. J.A. Padilla, Genética y Mejora Animal,Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Extremadura,Avenida de la Universidad s/n, 10071 Cáceres (Spain);telephone: +34-27-257148; fax: +34-27-257110;e-mail: jpadilla@unex.es.

  Article Information

Supported by a grant from the Consejería de Medio Ambiente, Urbanismo y Turismo (Junta de Extremadura, España).

Received: Received 3 November 1998;
revision accepted 4 January 1999.
Number of Print Pages : 6
Number of Figures : 6, Number of Tables : 0, Number of References : 33