A preliminary study on the sex chromosome variation of the Ryukyu house shrew, suncus murinus riukiuanus.

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Abstract
Chromosomes of the Ryukyu house shrew S. m. riukiuanus, were studied in 4 laboratory-bred specimens. While the autosomal constitution was almost identical with that of the Ryukyu house shrew so far reported, the sex chromosomes remarkably differed in size and morphology from those of reported cases. Three different types of the X chromosomes were distinguished: a metacentric one; a submetacentric one smaller than the 1st type; and a metacentric one which was equal in size to the 2nd type. The Y was represented by a medium-sized metacentric element. C-banding revealed that the amount and distribution of constitutive heterochromatin (C-heterochromatin) in the sex chromosomes were different from those previously reported. The possible participation of C-heterochromatin in the sex chromosome variation in S. murinus is discussed.