Karyotypes are compared of 14 species of Brazilian Columbiformcs (family Columbidae): Claravis pretiosa(2n = 74), Colurnba cayennensis(2n = 76), Columbapicazuro (2n = 76), Columhaspeciosa(2n = 76), Columbina minuta (2n = 76), Columbina passerina (2n = 76), Columbina picui (2n = 76), Columbina talpacoti(2n = 76), Geotri'gon montana (2n = 86), Leptotila rufaxilla(2n = 76), Leptotila verreauxi(2n = 78), Scardqfella squamrnata (2n = 78), Uropelia campestris (2n = 68) and Zenaida auriculata (2n = 76). The macrochromosomes of each species werc analysed by conventional Giemsa staining, cytobiometrically and with G-and C-banding.
All species studied are characterized by typical bird karyotypes with a few pairs of macrochromosomes and many microchromosomes.
The morphology and relative length of the Z chromosome are nearly the same in all species, but the W chromosome shows variation. The G-band patterns of the first pair in Columbiformes show a large positive band distally in the long arm, common to all species of the order. The constitutive heterochromatin is restricted to the centromeres of the macro-and microchromosomes/The W is the most heterochromatic chromosome in all species studied.
Studies of relative lengths, arm ratios and G-and C-banding patterns showed that in Columbiformes pairs 3, 4 and 5 are the most stable. The types of rearrangements distinguishing between species vary among the genera: pericentric inversions in Coh~mba; fusions and translocations in Uropelia; centric fissions in Geotrygon; fusions, translocations, para and pericentric inversions in Columbina, Leptotila. Zenaida and Scardafella.
On the basis of the karyological findings the phylogenetic relationships of the Brazilian Columbiformes are discussed.
Results