Remarks on the karyotype of the polypteriformes. The chromosomes of Polypterus delhezi, P. endlicheri congicus and P. palmas.

The chromosomes of 3 species of bikirs ( Polypterus delhezi, P. endlicheri congicus and P. palmas) were studied in somatic metaphases. The diploid number was found to be 2 n=36 in all the species and a basic morphological identity of the karyotype emerges from karyogram comparison not only in the 3 species described herein, but also in the other Polypteriformes already studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]