Re-examination of the chromosome homology between two subspecies of Japanese raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides albus and N.p. viverrinus)

SUMMARY- We investigated the chromosomal relationships between subspecies of Japanese raccoon dogs from Hokkaido (Nyctereutes procyonoides albus; NP A) and all of the other major Japanese Islands (N. p. viverrinus; NPV). Chromosomes of wild-caught NPA were analyzed by conventional stain, G-banding and C-banding techniques. The basic karyotype of this subspecies is composed of met acentric (M) and acrocentric (A) chromosomes plus a variable number of B chromosomes (2n = 38 ( = 26M + 10A + XY or XX) + Bs) and is the same as that of NPV. This study of NP A suggests that the Island type (2n = 38) only occurs in Japanese islands including Hokkaido, whereas all animals from mainland Asia and eastern Europe that have been examined have the Continental type (2n = 54).