Chromosomal Mechanisms in the Evolution of Artiodactyls

Abstract

Evidence is presented that primitive artiodactyls had a diploid number of 14. The higher diploid numbers of most living artiodactyls are interpreted as resulting from karyotypic fissioning at the times of past adaptive radiations. The fossil record appears to support this contention.An evolutionary sequence of unusual X chromosome transformations has been deduced from the differences that exist among extant species. From these, and from interrelationships of karyotypes, certain phylogenetic revisions are suggested.