Re-evaluation of the Lophuromys nudicaudus Heller, 1911 species-complex with a description of a new species from Zaire (Muridae Rodentia)
1996
Verheyen, W.N. | Hulselmans, J. (Rijksuniversitair Centrum Antwerpen (Belgium). Dept. Biologie) | Colyn, M.
In order to define precisely a new murid species from the Zaire lowland rainforest, a revision of the systematics of the related Lophuromys nudicaudus was essential. Analysis of the morphological and metrical data of the types and other museum-specimens showed that Lophuromys huttereri sp.nov. is a well-defined species inhabiting probably the greater part of the lowland rainforest of the South-Central faunal region south of the Zaire River. Lophuromys nudicaudus on the other hand has a zoogeographical distribution covering probably the whole of the West-Central lowland rainforest between the north bank of the Zaire River and the Cross River (Gabon/RioMuni/R.C.A./ Cameroon/Congo). Since one nudicaudus specimen (KMMA 6251) was collected in Basoko, far to the east of this region, it is probable that further collecting will prove it to be also present in the lowland rainforest on the right bank of the Zaire between the Ubangui and the Aruwimi rivers. Finally, there are indications (1) that specimens from the region between the Cross and Sanaga rivers differ sufficiently from typical nudicaudus to warrant taxonomical recognition under the subspecific name tullbergi and (2) that the Bioko-population, described under the subspecific name parvulus, is very close to its mainland counterpart and should therefore be put into synonymy with tullbergi.
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