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Karyotype studies support the view that modern genera of the family Ctenodactylidae originated in Africa. Karyotype differences between the genera are less obvious than morphological differences but coincide in relating Massoutiera to Felovia and deriving this line from the Pectinator‐like ancestor which, in turn, was closely related to a Ctenodactylus ancestor. 43% of the chromosomes are standard throughout the family; 25% seem to be very susceptible to fragmentation, translocation and inversion. These changeable chromosomes are the only ones that show differences in their G‐band patterns. The ctenodactylid karyotype resembles caviomorph karyotypes in its NF, predominantly metacentric chromosomes and in its nucleolar organiser, or marker, chromosomes.

A study of the chromosomes of Cavia aperea and Galea musteloides has been made following the introduction into captivity of these two cavies from Argentina. The evolutionary relationships of the two genera have been considered, and the possible ancestry of C. porcellus from C. aperea was investigated in hybrids of the two species.

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