Karyological and bioinformatic data on the common chameleon .

The data presented in this paper stand as supplementary information of the associated article "Karyological characterization of the common chameleon () provides insights on the evolution and diversification of sex chromosomes in Chamaeleonidae" [1]. This work provides (i) raw experimental data on the karyology of the common chameleon and (ii) the results of bioinformatic analysis on sex-specific and repeated DNA sequences found in the same species. The karyological information here presented includes traditional staining method (Giemsa staining) and sequential C-banding + fluorochromes performed on Tunisian samples of the species.

Karyological characterization of the common chameleon (Chamaeleo chamaeleon) provides insights on the evolution and diversification of sex chromosomes in Chamaeleonidae.

Chameleons display high karyological diversity in chromosome number (from 2n = 20 to 62), morphology, heterochromatin distribution and location of specific chromosomal markers, making them unique study models in evolutionary cytogenetics. However, most available cytogenetic data are limited to the description of the chromosome number and morphology. Concerning sex chromosomes, our knowledge is limited to ZZ/ZW and Z1Z1Z2Z2/Z1Z2W systems in the genus Furcifer and the isolation of sex-linked, male-specific, sequences in Chamaeleo calyptratus, but the putative XY chromosomes have still to be identified in Chamaeleo and the conservation of male heterogamety in the genus needs confirmation from other species.