In order to investigate the cytogenetic characters of Parabramis and Megalobrama, their karyotype polymorphisms were studied through cell culture in vivo. The DNA contents of M. amblycephala and M. amblycephala and P. pekinensis were measured for the first time. The karyotype of M. amblycephala is 2n=24m+20sm+4st, NF=92, DNA content is 2.66 pg. The karyotype of M. hoffmanni is 2n=26m+18sm+4st, NF=92, DNA content is 2.57 pg. The karyotype of M. pellegrini is 2n=26m+18sm+4st, NF=92, DNA content is 2.81 pg. The karyotype of M. amblycephala is 2n=24m+20sm+4st, NF=92, DNA content is 2.60 pg. The karyotype of P. pekinensis is 2n=26m+22sm, NF=96, DNA content is 2.34 pg. The chromosomal karyotypes of Megalobrama genus had convergence during evolution and obviously different from that of P. pekinensis. Both DNA content and fundamental arm number (NF) are significantly different between Parabramis and Megalobrama. In terms of the fundamental arm number (NF), the P. pekinensis should belong to specialization group, while Megalobrama species belong to primitive classification. Collectively, our results could provide essential data for chromosome set manipulation and genome research of Parabramis and Megalobrama.