Background: The taxonomic classification of squirrel monkeys is often controversial issue offering many different information. The classification of captive animals is difficult due to the phenotypic similarities between the presented species, which is observed mainly in coat coloration.
Methods: The objective of this study was to analyze the chromosome pattern of one squirrel monkey with off standard physical characteristics, which is kept in the Laboratory Animals Breeding Center in Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil, and try to establish some correlations. Chromosomes were obtained using lymphocyte culture technique.
Results and conclusions: Evaluation of G bands showed a terminal deletion in one chromosome of pair 13. The association of the results found with the different phenotypic characteristics led us to classify it as a Saimiri sciureus specimen with a structural chromosomal change, possibly allowing the expression of hemizygous alleles.
Keywords: Saimiri; chromosome deletion; facial dimorphism; karyotype.
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