The human immunoglobulin processed pseudogene C epsilon 3 (IGHEP2), which was assigned to chromosome 9 by somatic cell hybrid analysis, has not been regionally localized as yet. In this study, using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) combined with conventional QFQ-, RBG- or GTG-banding, IGHEP2 was assigned to the p terminus region of chromosome 9, at band 9p24.2-->p24.1. This result suggests that the C epsilon 3 gene is a novel telomeric DNA marker useful not only for constructing the physical map of human chromosome 9 but also for cytogenetic analyses such as cryptic translocations. In addition, comparative mapping of this gene in other catarrhine primates would contribute to investigations of human and other primate karyotype evolution.