| Order | Family | ASM name | MSW3 name | IUCN TaxonId | taxonomicNotes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CARNIVORA | HERPESTIDAE | *Bdeogale omnivora | 136686 | Treated as a subspecies of Bdeogale crassicauda by several authors (Sale and Taylor 1970; Wozencraft 1993, 2005), but here treated as distinct following Taylor (2013). | |
| CHIROPTERA | MORMOOPIDAE | *Pteronotus mesoamericanus | 88018392 | Previously Pteronotus mesoamericanus this was assessed as the subspecies Pteronotus parnellii ssp. mesoamericanus. It has now been raised to species level. | |
| CHIROPTERA | MORMOOPIDAE | *Pteronotus rubiginosus | 88018592 | Previously Pteronotus rubiginosus this was included as a subspecies Pteronotus parnellii. It has now been raised to species level. | |
| CHIROPTERA | PHYLLOSTOMIDAE | *Platyrrhinus incarum | 88160214 | This species has been split from P. helleri (Velazco et al. 2010). | |
| CHIROPTERA | PHYLLOSTOMIDAE | *Platyrrhinus nigellus | 136317 | This used to be a complex of two species (Velazco pers. comm.). | |
| CHIROPTERA | PHYLLOSTOMIDAE | *Vampyrodes major | 88151984 | Vampyroides major was previously included within V. caraccioli. It is now considered a distinct species. | |
| CHIROPTERA | PTEROPODIDAE | *Myonycteris leptodon | 84463728 | Nesi et al. (2013) recently elevated the taxon Myonycteris leptodon to species rank. This species was originally described by Anderson (1908), but synonymised with Myonytceris torquata by Bergmans (1976) and has remained in synonymy since then (e.g. Simmons 2005). However, recent molecular analyses have shown that M. leptodon from West Africa differs by 4.8-6.6% in its Cytochrome_b sequence from M. torquata from Central Africa (Nesi et al. 2013). The two species are morphologically similar, but their distributions appear to be non-overlapping. | |
| CHIROPTERA | PTEROPODIDAE | *Scotonycteris bergmansi | 84466436 | Morphologically, Scotonycteris bergmansi is not distinguishable from the other two species of Scotonycteris, S. zenkeri (in Cameroon) and S. ocidentalis (in West Africa). However, molecular analyses, based on mitochondrial and nuclear data, have shown that these three taxa are genetically isolated (Hassanin et al. 2015). | |
| DIDELPHIMORPHIA | DIDELPHIDAE | *Marmosops pakaraimae | 51221900 | The new species, M. pakaraimae, is one of only seven mammals known to be endemic to Pantepui, and phylogenetic analyses of cytochrome-b sequence data indicate that its sister taxon is M. parvidens, a geographically adjacent lowland species (Voss et al. 2013). | |
| DIDELPHIMORPHIA | DIDELPHIDAE | *Thylamys pulchellus | 199834 | This species was previously considered as T. pusillus. A recent study (Teta et al. 2009) demonstrated genetic and morphological differences with T. pusillus (sensu stricto). Morphological differences with T. pusillus were also discussed by Martin (2008). | |
| EULIPOTYPHLA | SORICIDAE | *Congosorex phillipsorum | 136343 | ||
| EULIPOTYPHLA | SORICIDAE | *Crocidura afeworkbekelei | 112517405 | Crocidura afeworkbekelei is part of the C. glassi complex of Ethiopian endemics, which includes C. glassi, C. macmillani, C. baileyi and C. lucina (Lavrenchenko et al. 2016). | |
| EULIPOTYPHLA | SORICIDAE | *Crocidura fingui | 111739377 | Based on mitochondrial data, C. fingui forms a well-supported monophyletic clade belonging to the C. poensis complex (CerÃaco et al. 2015). The C. fingui clade is sister to all C. poensis from mainland Africa (Cameroon, Central African Republic, Gabon and Republic of Congo) (CerÃaco et al. 2015). Morphological and phylogenetic analyses combined with high rate of endemism on both islands, supports C. fingui representing a distinct species of Crocidurinae shrew (CerÃaco et al. 2015). | |
| EULIPOTYPHLA | SORICIDAE | *Crocidura gathornei | 111765432 | ||
| EULIPOTYPHLA | SORICIDAE | *Crocidura indochinensis | (Crocidura indochinensis) | 136733 | This taxon was previously included as a synonym of C. horsfieldii, but following Lunde et al. (2003) C. horsfieldii is restricted to Sri Lanka and peninsular India, with indochinensis and wuchihensis representing separate species. See Lunde et al. (2003, 2004) for further descriptions and comparative measurements of C. wuchihenisis and C. indochinensis. The species, as currently treated, might still represent a complex of more than one species (Smith et al. 2008). |
| EULIPOTYPHLA | SORICIDAE | *Crocidura lwiroensis | 112139630 | C. lwiroensis is distinguishable from other members of the genus both externally and cranio-dentally (Kerbis Peterhans et al. 2013). | |
| EULIPOTYPHLA | SORICIDAE | *Crocidura mdumai | 112503346 | Molecular analysis shows Crocidura mdumai to be a member of the Crocidura monax clade (Stanley et al. 2015). Although C. mdumai is endemic to the Ngorongoro Crater, it is a member of a clade that includes the East and West Usambaras (C. tansaniana), the South Pares (C. usambarae), Mt Meru (Crocidura newmarki), Kilimanjaro and North Pare (Crocidura monax), and the middle Eastern Arc Mountains (EAM): Rubeho, Ukaguru, Uluguru, and Udzungwa (Crocidura munissii). This geographic distribution of members of the C. monax complex is significant as it spans two geologically distinct mountains groups the Northern Highlands and the EAM (Stanley et al. 2015). | |
| EULIPOTYPHLA | SORICIDAE | *Crocidura munissii | 112503202 | Molecular analysis shows Crocidura munissii to be a member of the Crocidura monax clade (Stanley et al. 2015). Although C. munissii is endemic to the southern Eastern Arc Mountains (EAM), it is a member of a clade that includes the East and West Usambaras (C. tansaniana), the South Pares (C. usambarae), Mt. Meru (Crocidura newmarki), Kilimanjaro and North Pare (Crocidura monax), and Ngorongoro (Crocidura mdumai). This geographic distribution of members of the C. monax clade is significant as it spans two geologically distinct mountains groups the Northern Highlands and the EAM (Stanley et al. 2015). | |
| EULIPOTYPHLA | SORICIDAE | *Crocidura newmarki | 112503255 | Molecular analysis shows C. newmarki to be a member of the Crocidura monax clade (Stanley et al. 2015), although C. newmarki is endemic to Mt. Meru, it is a member of a clade that includes the East and West Usambaras (C. tansaniana), the South Pares (C. usambarae), Ngorongoro (Crocidura mdumai), Kilimanjaro and North Pare (Crocidura monax), and the middle Eastern Arc Mountains (EAM), Rubeho, Ukaguru, Uluguru, and Udzungwa (Crocidura munissii). This geographic distribution of members of the C. monax clade is significant, as it spans two geologically distinct mountains groups the Northern Highlands and the EAM (Stanley et al. 2015). | |
| EULIPOTYPHLA | SORICIDAE | *Crocidura nimbasilvanus | 112519468 | Crocidura nimbasilvanus has recently been split from C. goliath and is now known to be the sister taxon of C. nimbae, which is also endemic to West Africa (Jacquet et al. 2012). | |
| EULIPOTYPHLA | SORICIDAE | *Crocidura phuquocensis | 45954289 | ||
| EULIPOTYPHLA | SORICIDAE | *Crocidura sokolovi | 45954331 | ||
| EULIPOTYPHLA | SORICIDAE | *Crocidura yaldeni | 112517512 | Crocidura yaldeni is a sister species to C. thalia, with analysis showing a tendency for C. thalia and C. glassi to form a clade against C. yaldeni (Bannikova et al. 2001, Bannikova et al. 2005). Phylogenetic analyses revealed that genetic distances between C. yaldeni, and its two closest relatives, C. thalia and C. glassi, are within the range usually recorded for interspecific genetic differentiation within Crocidura (Bannikova et al. 2001, Bannikova et al. 2005). Mitochondrial cytochrome b gene sequencing revealed that C. yaldeni and C. macmillani form the most basal branch of the group of Ethiopian endemics (including C. glassi, C. thalia, C. lucina and C. baileyi), whereas C. thalia appears as sister to C. glassi (Lavrenchenko et al. 2009). | |
| EULIPOTYPHLA | SORICIDAE | *Crocidura zaitsevi | 45954341 | ||
| EULIPOTYPHLA | SORICIDAE | *Cryptotis aroensis | 45954361 | ||
| EULIPOTYPHLA | SORICIDAE | *Cryptotis cavatorculus | 96829126 | New species in Cryptotis goldmani group (Woodman 2015). | |
| EULIPOTYPHLA | SORICIDAE | *Cryptotis celaque | 96828906 | New species in Cryptotis goldmani group (Woodman 2015). | |
| EULIPOTYPHLA | SORICIDAE | *Cryptotis dinirensis | 114956336 | ||
| EULIPOTYPHLA | SORICIDAE | *Cryptotis lacertosus | 48269646 | This is a newly recognised species in the Cryptotis goldmani group (Woodman 2010). | |
| EULIPOTYPHLA | SORICIDAE | *Cryptotis mam | 48269568 | Previously included within Cryptotis griseoventris, C. mam is a newly recognised species in the Cryptotis goldmani group (Woodman 2010). | |
| EULIPOTYPHLA | SORICIDAE | *Cryptotis mccarthyi | 96829093 | This is a new species in Cryptotis goldmani group (Woodman 2015). | |
| EULIPOTYPHLA | SORICIDAE | *Cryptotis merus | (Cryptotis mera) | 136299 | This species is monotypic. The genre of the genus Cryptotis is masculine, not feminine (Gardner 2005), therefore, the epithet must change from mera to merus. |
| EULIPOTYPHLA | SORICIDAE | *Cryptotis niausa | 96829156 | This is a new species (Moreno and Albuja 2014). | |
| EULIPOTYPHLA | SORICIDAE | *Cryptotis oreoryctes | 45954370 | ||
| EULIPOTYPHLA | SORICIDAE | *Cryptotis perijensis | 91356351 | New species. | |
| EULIPOTYPHLA | SORICIDAE | *Cryptotis venezuelensis | 48267978 | ||
| EULIPOTYPHLA | SORICIDAE | *Myosorex bururiensis | 45954374 | ||
| EULIPOTYPHLA | SORICIDAE | *Myosorex gnoskei | 45954382 | ||
| EULIPOTYPHLA | SORICIDAE | *Myosorex jejei | 45954378 | ||
| EULIPOTYPHLA | SORICIDAE | *Myosorex kabogoensis | 112042073 | ||
| EULIPOTYPHLA | SORICIDAE | *Sorex ixtlanensis | 136339 | This species was formerly considered a part of S. veraepacis mutabilis. It is difficult to determine the separate distribution of this newly elevated species. More taxonomic research is required (P. de Grammont, I. Arellano, N. Woodman and J. Matson pers. comm.). This species is monotypic (Carraway 2014). | |
| EULIPOTYPHLA | SORICIDAE | *Sorex mediopua | 136656 | Sorex mediopua was previously considered to be part of Sorex saussurei saussurei. The distribution of mediopua and saussurei are not very well differentiated. Because of this confusion, it is difficult to assess this species. More taxonomic research is needed (P. de Grammont, I. Arellano, N. Woodman and J. Matson pers. comm.). | |
| EULIPOTYPHLA | SORICIDAE | *Suncus hututsi | 45954392 | ||
| EULIPOTYPHLA | SORICIDAE | *Sylvisorex akaibei | 45954406 | ||
| EULIPOTYPHLA | SORICIDAE | *Sylvisorex corbeti | 48294480 | Sylvisorex corbeti is another new species within the genus Sylvisorex, the composition of which is still largely unknown (Hutterer and Montermann 2009). It may be related to S. ollula, which is considerably smaller but otherwise similar (R. Hutterer pers. comm. 2017). | |
| LAGOMORPHA | LEPORIDAE | *Sylvilagus gabbi | 87491157 | Previously this was assessed as the subspecies S. brasiliensis gabbi. It has now been raised to species level.
Sylvilagus gabbi, along with its putatively subordinate taxon truei, were among the many subspecies synonymized under S. brasiliensis. The former two were recently removed from synonomy with brasiliensis, with truei becoming a subspecies of S. gabbi (Ruedas and Salazar-Bravo 2007). Currently, Gabb’s Cottontail is hypothesized to be constituted by six subspecies: S. gabbi gabbi, S. g. truei, S. g. consobrinus, S. g. messorius, S. g. tumacus, S. g. incitatus, however, the validity of some of these taxa remains in question; the taxonomy of S. gabbi is therefore unstable at the present time, until such a time as the identity of these taxa is resolved (Ruedas 2018). | |
| LAGOMORPHA | OCHOTONIDAE | *Ochotona coreana | 87948071 | This species is within the subgenus Pika. There are no subspecies identified. Initially, Ochotona coreana was described as an independent species, after which it was included as a subspecies of O. hyperborea. Now, based on new molecular evidence and its geographic isolation, it is once again treated as an independent species, and is most closely related to O. hyperborea (Lissovsky et al. 2008, Lissovsky 2014). | |
| LAGOMORPHA | OCHOTONIDAE | *Ochotona mantchurica | 87948094 | This species is within subgenus Pika. Ochotona mantchurica consists of three subspecies: O. m. mantchurica, O. m. loukashkini, and O. m. scorodumovi. The independence of this taxon was only recently recognized, and previously some parts of its distribution were included in O. hyperborea, and others in O. alpina (reflecting the tradition of confusion of these forms). It was originally described as a subspecies of O. hyperborea, while the form scorodumovi from Russian Transbaikalia was aligned with O. alpina. Populations in China from the Lesser Khingan Range (loukashkini) have been referred to as O. alpina cinerofusca. New data solidify the independence of O. manchurica south of the Amur River, while the closely-related hyperborea is found only north of the Amur. Additional systematic confusion includes a large series of O. hyperborea collected in Mongolia, close to Ulaanbaatar, which were originally designated as mantchurica (and even used as a voucher series for mantchurica). | |
| RODENTIA | CAVIIDAE | *Galea comes | 86235821 | ||
| RODENTIA | CAVIIDAE | *Galea leucoblephara | 86236150 |
G. l. demissa Thomas, 1921 – Chaco dry woodlands of central and southern Bolivia western Paraguay, and southward to Argentina, reaching the provinces of Santiago del Estero and Catamarca.
| |
| RODENTIA | CRICETIDAE | *Abrothrix manni | 114955961 | ||
| RODENTIA | CRICETIDAE | *Akodon polopi | 48300296 | ||
| RODENTIA | CRICETIDAE | *Graomys chacoensis | (Graomys centralis) | 114981285 | |
| RODENTIA | CRICETIDAE | *Microtus elbeyli | 112465222 | Specimens previously recorded as Microtus irani from southeastern Turkey are now considered to be a separate species (M. elbeyli) based on karyological “2n= 46†and cranial differences, and also marked ochreous dorsal color (Yiğit et al. 2016). | |
| RODENTIA | CRICETIDAE | *Proedromys liangshanensis | 136459 | This new species of Proedromys is distinguished from P. bedfordi by external and cranial measurements, as well as dentition (Liu et al. 2007). | |
| RODENTIA | CRICETIDAE | *Reithrodontomys musseri | 45959367 | ||
| RODENTIA | CRICETIDAE | *Rhipidomys albujai | 113476528 | ||
| RODENTIA | CRICETIDAE | *Thomasomys auricularis | 96790651 | New species, split from T. pyrrhonotus (Pacheco 2015). | |
| RODENTIA | CRICETIDAE | *Thomasomys australis | 96791089 | New species, split from T. daphne (Pacheco 2015). | |
| RODENTIA | CRICETIDAE | *Thomasomys contradictus | 96792191 | Musser and Carleton (1993, 2005) treated T. contradictus and T. dispar as subspecies or simple synonyms of T. cinereiventer. However, Pacheco (2003) held these taxa as full species (Pacheco 2015). This species is now recognized as a new species, split from T. cinereiventer (Pacheco 2015). | |
| RODENTIA | CRICETIDAE | *Thomasomys dispar | 96792239 | Musser and Carleton (1993, 2005) treated T. contradictus and T. dispar as subspecies or simple synonyms of T. cinereiventer. However, Pacheco (2003) held these taxa as full species (Pacheco 2015). This species is now recognized as a new species, split from T. cinereiventer. More research is needed to determine whether this species is truly monotypic (Pacheco 2015). | |
| RODENTIA | CRICETIDAE | *Thomasomys emeritus | 96799858 | Based on karyotype analysis of Aguilera et al. (2000) and substantial morphological differences support the hypothesis that T. emeritus is a valid species distinct from T. laniger (Pacheco 2015). | |
| RODENTIA | CRICETIDAE | *Thomasomys fumeus | 96800350 | Voss (2003) recognized that T. rhoadsi fumeus was substantially smaller than typical rhoadsi. Based on this argument and other morphological traits Pacheco (2003) recognized fumeus as a valid species; which was followed by Tirira (2007) and Lee et al. (2008). However, no revision or deeper studies have been done (Pacheco 2015). Lee et al. (2015) did include this taxa in a new phylogenetic tree to confirm the identification of T. fumeus from Volcán Sumaco. | |
| RODENTIA | CRICETIDAE | *Thomasomys nicefori | 96801038 | Voss (2003) suggested that T. nicefori might be included in T. popayanus; however, Pacheco (2003) considered both as valid species. Pacheco suggested that the population on the western Cordillera, from Urrao, Páramo Frontino, Antioquia, might correspond to a different species (Pacheco 2015). | |
| RODENTIA | CRICETIDAE | *Thomasomys princeps | 96801288 | T. princeps was once a subspecies of Thomasomys aureus. However this species is now monotypic (Patton 2015.). | |
| RODENTIA | DASYPROCTIDAE | *Dasyprocta croconota | 89497187 | Dasyprocta croconota Wagler, 1831 “Brasilia ad flumen Amazonum†emended by Iack-Ximenes (1999) to Santarém, Rio Tapajós, Pará, Brazil. Thomas 1923 previously recognized this species as a subspecies of D. aguti [D. leporina herein] This species is monotypic. | |
| RODENTIA | DASYPROCTIDAE | *Dasyprocta iacki | 89531729 | ||
| RODENTIA | ECHIMYIDAE | *Toromys rhipidurus | (Makalata rhipidura) | 90386329 | |
| RODENTIA | HETEROMYIDAE | *Chaetodipus ammophilus | (Chaetodipus dalquesti) | 96812094 | Ãlvarez-Castañeda and Rios (2011) reassigned two subspecies from C. arenarius (ammophilusand sublucidus) to C. dalquesti. Rios and Ãlvarez-Castañeda (2013) recognized C. ammophilus as having taxonomic priority over C. dalquesti, and regarded C. dalquesti as a sub taxa. Based on detailed sequencing of nD and mtD genes, C. ammophilus is a close relative of C. arenarius and C. siccus, and all three are part of the Baja California Peninsula lineage of the “modern†clade of Chaetodipus pocket mice, along with C. fallax, C. californicus, and C. spinatus. Chaetodipus ammophilus is generally parapatric with the closely related C. arenarius, in which it was previously included, but the two species have been found in sympatry at three localities within 75 km of Ciudad Insurgentes on the Magdalena Plains and near La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Three subspecies are recognized:
C. a. ammophilus Osgood, 1907 – NW Mexico (restricted to Isla Santa Margarita, SW Baja California Sur). C. a. dalquesti Roth, 1976 – NW Mexico (S Pacific coast and Cape Region of Baja California Sur). C. a. sublucidus Nelson and Goldman, 1929 – NW Mexico (coast S and E of the BahÃa de la Paz, except the El Magote sand spit, S Baja California Sur).
|
| RODENTIA | HETEROMYIDAE | *Chaetodipus siccus | 92461708 | Ãlvarez-Castañeda and Rios (2011) recognized C. siccus as specifically distinct from C. arenarius, in which it was formerly included, and C. ammophilus, based on molecular sequencing. All three species are part of the Baja California Peninsula lineage of the “modern†clade of Chaetodipus pocket mice, along with C. fallax, C. californicus, and C. spinatus. It is more closely related to the allopatric C. ammophilus, from which it is morphologically indistinguishable and has a sequence divergence of only 5·5% of two mtD genes. Based on its morphological similarity, close (and fully allopatric) distribution, and marginal mtD divergence from C. ammophilus, evidence from nD (in addition to mtD sequencing) is required to confirm its species status or to relegate it to a subspecies of C. ammophilus. | |
| RODENTIA | HETEROMYIDAE | *Dipodomys ornatus | 92464382 | Fernández et al. (2012) recognized Dipodomys phillipsii as specifically distinct from D. ornatus based on molecular sequence analysis. | |
| RODENTIA | MURIDAE | *Acomys selousi | 47806307 | A. selousi is synonymous with A. transvaalensis (Musser and Carleton 2005, Verheyen et al. 2011). Previously described as part of the A. spinosissimus complex, A. selousi is now known to be distinct (Verheyen et al. 2011). Populations of Acomys north of the Zambezi River are morphologically and genetically distinct from A. selousi. | |
| RODENTIA | MURIDAE | *Hylomyscus heinrichorum | 111653543 | Hylomyscus heinrichorum is part of the Hylomyscus anselli group, which includes H. anselli, H. arcimontensis, and H. kerbispeterhansi (Carleton et al. 2015). This species is one of many newly described taxa within the genus Hylomyscus, which has doubled in size in the last 12 years to 16 species (Carleton et al. 2015). | |
| RODENTIA | MURIDAE | *Lophuromys simensis | 47992103 | This species is a part of the Lepus flavopunctatus species complex (Lavrenchenko et al. 2007). Two groups of this species were discovered in mitochondrial D analysis, however they could not be distinguished by morphological and molecular data, which can be explained by possible past hybridization of mitochondrial D from another species (Lavrenchenko et al. 2004). Despite this there is an evident absence of contemporary gene flow between L. simensis and its closest relative L. menageshae (Lavrenchenko et al. 2007). | |
| RODENTIA | MURIDAE | *Otomys auratus | 110662638 | South Africa
This species was until recently included in Otomys irroratus and the two cannot be distinguished on morphological grounds; however, O. auratus is closely associated with the Grassland Biome in South Africa and the Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe, whilst O. irroratus is closely associated with the Fynbos and Thicket biomes of the Western Cape and EasternCape provinces of South Africa (Monadjem et al. 2015). Otomys auratus was shown to significantly differ from O. irroratus on molecular, chromosomal and ecological grounds (Taylor et al. 2009; Engelbrecht et al. 2011). | |
| RODENTIA | MURIDAE | *Otomys karoensis | (Otomys saundersiae) | 111949037 |
Otomys karoensis previously was included as a synonym or subspecies of O. saundersiae (Meester et al. 1986) but chromosomal and molecular evidence show that O. saundersiae from the Eastern Cape is a synonym of O. irroratus and that O. karoensis is the correct name for the species (Taylor et al. 2009). |
| RODENTIA | MURIDAE | *Pseudomys auritus | 75927882 | No subspecies are recognized. | |
| RODENTIA | MURIDAE | *Rhabdomys bechuanae | 112166182 | South AfricaInitially the single, monotypic species R. pumilio was recognised (Sparrman 1784). Several subspecies have been proposed based on extensive variation in pelage colour and morphology across the distribution. Within southern Africa, Roberts (1951) proposed 20 subspecies of which Meester et al. (1986) regarded only seven as being valid. Rambau et al. (2003) recommended the recognition of two species based on cytogenetic and mitochondrial sequence data, the xeric R. pumilio and mesic R. dilectus, which was adopted by Musser and Carleton (2005). The authors further suggested the presence of two subspecies, R. d. dilectus and R. d. chakae within the latter taxon. This was confirmed in a recent molecular and chromosomal analysis of R. dilectus, which revealed high genetic divergence within the species, and the presence of three distinct clades (Castiglia et al. 2012). The basal clade, recognised as R. d. chakae is endemic to South Africa, while the two distinct sister clades (R. d. dilectus) are distributed allopatrically across northern parts of its range, into East Africa, including a new divergent karyotype found in the high altitudes of Mt. Meru and Mt. Kilimanjaro (Castiglia et al. 2012). Reproductive isolation due to pre- and post-mating barriers have been found among R. pumilio and R. dilectus, as well as among the proposed subspecies within the latter taxon (Pillay 2000, Pillay et al. 2006). Subsequently, du Toit et al. (2012) indicated three genetic lineages with distinct distributions related to biome boundaries within the xeric R. pumilio. Based on deep mitochondrial genetic divergence, paraphyly of R. pumilio with respect to R. dilectus and different ecological preferences of the three genetic lineages within R. pumilio, the recognition of four species (R. dilectus, R. pumilio, R. bechuanae, and R. intermedius) was suggested (du Toit et al. 2012). However, Monadjem et al. (2015) recognise R. chakae as a valid species due to at least one case of known sympatry between R. d. dilectus and R. d. chakae. Further molecular research (particularly including more nuclear data) and cranial morphometric analyses would be useful to fully resolve the taxonomy of the genus. Until such time, it is recommended that Rhabdomys be treated as a species complex. | |
| RODENTIA | MURIDAE | *Rhabdomys intermedius | 112168732 | Initially the single, monotypic species Rhabdomys pumilio was recognised (Sparrman, 1784). Several subspecies have been proposed based on extensive variation in pelage colour and morphology across the distribution. Within southern Africa, Roberts (1951) proposed 20 subspecies of which Meester et al. (1986) regarded only seven as being valid. Rambau et al. (2003) recommended the recognition of two species based on cytogenetic and mitochondrial sequence data, the xeric R. pumilio and mesic R. dilectus, which was adopted by Musser and Carleton (2005). The authors further suggested the presence of two subspecies, R. d. dilectus and R. d. chakae within the latter taxon. This was confirmed in a recent molecular and chromosomal analysis of R. dilectus, which revealed high genetic divergence within the species, and the presence of three distinct clades (Castiglia et al. 2012). The basal clade, recognised as R. d. chakae is endemic to South Africa, while the two distinct sister clades (R. d. dilectus) are distributed allopatrically across northern parts of its range, into East Africa, including a new divergent karyotype found in the high altitudes of Mt. Meru and Mt. Kilimanjaro (Castiglia et al. 2012). Reproductive isolation due to pre- and post-mating barriers have been found among R. pumilio and R. dilectus, as well as among the proposed subspecies within the latter taxon (Pillay 2000; Pillay et al. 2006). Subsequently, du Toit et al. (2012) indicated three genetic lineages with distinct distributions related to biome boundaries within the xeric R. pumilio. Based on deep mitochondrial genetic divergence, paraphyly of R. pumilio with respect to R. dilectus and different ecological preferences of the three genetic lineages within R. pumilio, the recognition of four species (R. dilectus, R. pumilio, R. bechuanae, and R. intermedius) was suggested (du Toit et al. 2012). However, Monadjem et al. (2015) recognise R. chakae as a valid species due to at least one case of known sympatry between R. d. dilectus and R. d. chakae. Further molecular research (particularly including more nuclear data) and cranial morphometric analyses would be useful to fully resolve the taxonomy of the genus. Until such time, it is recommended that Rhabdomys be treated as a species complex. | |
| RODENTIA | MURIDAE | *Soricomys montanus | 47808962 | This species forms part of the genus of Soricomys, including Soricomys kalinga, Soricomys leonardocoi and Soricomys musseri (Balete et al. 2012). It was previously included within S. kalinga however analysis reveals this species to be distinct, with an estimated divergence of around one million years ago (Heaney et al. 2016). | |
| RODENTIA | SCIURIDAE | *Prosciurillus alstoni | 112300360 | Prosciurillus alstoni is a member of a species group that includes P. leucomus, P. weberi, P. topapuensis, and P. rosenbergii, all endemic to Sulawesi and nearby islands (Musser et al. 2016). On mainland Sulawesi, P. leucomus, P. alstoni, P. weberi, and P. topapuensis have allopatric ranges relative to each other. | |
| RODENTIA | SCIURIDAE | *Prosciurillus topapuensis | 112298450 | Prosciurillus topapuensis is a member of a species group that includes P. leucomus, P. alstoni, P. weberi, and P. rosenbergii, all endemic to Sulawesi and nearby islands (Musser et al. 2010).
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