SOMATIC CHROMOSOMES OF THE PURPLE SUNBIRD, NECTARINIA ASIATICA ASIATICA (NECTARINIIDAE : PASSERIFORMES : AVES)
OM PARKASH MITTAL *
Department of Zoology, Panjab university , Chandigarh-160014
VIJAY LAKSHMI SHARMA *
Department of Zoology, Panjab university , Chandigarh-160014
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
In the present report chromosomes of a passer, Nectarinia asiatica asiatica, belonging to the family Nectariniidae, have been studied. The diploid number of 72 ± chromosomes has been established for this species, with 14 macro- and 58 microchromosomes. The female as usual is the heterogametic sex representing ZW type of sex mechanism while the male carries ZZ type of sex mechanism. The Z-chromosome is subtelocentric lying at the 5th position in the karyotype whereas W is a telocentric falling in between 7th and 8th pairs of chromosomes. The present account puts the family Nectariniidae on the cytological record for the first time.