KARYOLOGICAL ANALYSES ON THE AUSTRALIAN CRAYFISH CHERAX DESTRUCTOR (DECAPODA: PARASTACIDAE)

The karyotype of the Australian crayfish Cherax destructor was studied by examining metaphase chromosome spreads from the testis tissues (TE) and the mitotic cells in division from the regeneration callus of the new forming limb (FL). The sampled tissues showed the same results. A total of Ill mitotic metaphases, 67 TE + 44 FL, were examined and the diploid chromosome number ranged from 179 to 207 per metaphase with a mode at 188, the latter being considered the diploid chromosome number (2n = 188) of the species. The karyotype consisted of 70 metacentric, 42 submetacentric, 48 subtelocentric and 28 telocentric chromosome pairs. The sex chromosomes were cytologically indistinguishable.