Karyotype Conservation and Difference in DNA Amount in Anguilloid Fishes

The two Pacific anguilloid fishes Anguilla japonica and Astroconger myriaster, belonging to the different families, appear to have identical chromosome numbers (2n = 38) and karyotypes, including one pair of conspicuous heteromorphic chromosomes in females. Cytophotometric measurements, however, indicate a considerable difference in DNA content between the two species.