Chromosomal Studies and Evolutionary Relationships of an Endangered Species, Reithrodontomys raviventris

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Abstract
G- and C-banded karyotypes of Reithrodontomys raviventris were examined to identify the amount and types of chromosomal change that have occurred in this species. The evolutionary origin and phylogenetic relationships of R. raviventris were evaluated by comparing G- and C-band data with six additional species of Reithrodontomys (fulvescens, creper, mexicanus, megalotis, montanus, and sumichrasti). Banding homologies indicate that the low diploid number forms (raviventris, montanus, megalotis, and sumichrasti) shared a common ancestry and that a major dichotomy exists among these taxa. R. raviventris and R. montanus share a phylogenetic relationship as indicated by 10 shared-derived chromosomal rearrangement events. R. megalotis and R. sumichrasti represent a second well-defined clade. These chromosomal banding data suggest an alternative hypothesis to the traditionally accepted view that R. raviventris is most closely related to R. megalotis.