Cytological Study of Family Aeshnidae (Odonata: Anisoptera) From India: A Review

Dalveer Singh Somal and Gurinder Kaur Walia*

Department of Zoology and Environmental Sciences, Punjabi University, Patiala - 147002, Punjab, India.

Corresponding Author E-mail: gurinderkaur_walia@yahoo.co.in

DOI : http://dx.doi.org/10.13005/bbra/3035

ABSTRACT: Cytological review of 59 aeshnid species and cytogenetic investigations on Anax ephippiger, Anax immaculifrons, Anax indicus, Anax nigrofasciatus nigrolineatus, Anax parthenope, Gynacantha subinterrupta of the family Aeshnidae by carbol fuchsin staining and C - banding have been under taken. All the species posses 2n = 27m with X0 - XX sex determination except Anax ephippiger with 2n = 14 + neo XY, resulted by the 13 simultaneous fusions among the autosomes and between autosome and sex chromosome. The structure and behaviour of chromosomes, variation in size of m chromosomes and X chromosome and distribution of C - heterochromatin have been studied and compared among the species.  C - bands are mostly present at the terminal regions of autosomal bivalents, while Anax ephippiger and Anax parthenope  also possess C - bands at the interstitial and sub-terminal regions of the bivalents.  Moreover, sex chromosome and m bivalent show variation in distribution of C-heterochromatin in the species. Out of these, chromosome complement of Anax indicus Lieftinck, 1942 and C - banding on Anax ephippiger and Anax indicus have been investigated for the first time. List of cytologically studied species of family Aeshnidae has been updated to 60 species.

KEYWORDS: Anisoptera; Aeshnidae; Chromosome complement; C - heterochromatin; Micro chromosomes (m); Sex determination

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