Karyotypic data and the specific status and taxonomic affinites of Rattus villosissimus and R. sordidus

Abstract

Although R. villosissimus and R. sordidus have been considered to be conspecific, they differ karyotypically in at least 11 chromosomal rearrangements. It seems likely that they diverged early in the evolution of Rattus, and they should be regarded as separate species.