Chromosomal rearrangements in rock wallabies, Petrogale (Marsupialia: Macropodidae). II. G-banding analysis of Petrogale godmani.

Chromosomal rearrangements in the two currently recognised races of Petrogale godmani were examined using C- and G-banding. The nominate race P. godmani godmani (2n = 20) was found to possess an inverted chromosome 5 and an acrocentric 6-10 fusion, which can be derived from a 6-10 centric fusion by a centromeric transposition. The Cape York race (2n = 22) was found to retain the ancestral submetacentric chromosome 4 and the ancestral chromosome 5. Thus despite their genic similarity, the two races clearly have major chromosomal differences and should be regarded as separate species. Petrogale g. godmani shares two derived chromosomes with another Queensland taxon, the assimilis race of P. assimilis, indicating recent common ancestry. The Cape York race retains characteristics of an ancestral stock of Petrogale and its genic similarity with P. g. godmani could therefore be the result of extensive introgression.