Praomys degraaffi, a new species of Muridae (Mammalia) from central Africa

Species limits within the Praomys delectorum group (Rodentia: Muridae: Murinae) of East Africa: a morphometric reassessment and biogeographical implications

“…Whether generated from morphological or molecular datasets, Praomys emerges as a paraphyletic or polyphyletic construction, representative members of the various species groups not sharing a most recent common ancestor on derived trees (Lecompte et al ., 2002a, b, 2005; Kennis et al ., 2011). Van der Straeten & Kerbis Peterhans (1999) volunteered that all of the Praomys species groups may merit separate generic recognition in view of the singular morphological differentiation exhibited by each. We concur that the P. delectorum group is morphologically strongly circumscribed, unique in its combination of traits compared with the other species groups, in particular the P. jacksoni complex under which delectorum and related taxa were so long synonymized.…”

“…Curiously, Misonne (1974) retained melanotus , octomastis , and taitae as synonyms of unspecified rank within P. jacksoni while recognizing P. delectorum as a monotypic species. More recently, Van der Straeten & Kerbis Peterhans (1999) and Van der Straeten (2008) have listed all four taxa as species. Musser & Carleton (2005) followed Davis's (1965) interpretation – the single species P. delectorum with three junior synonyms – pending presentation of supportive data and elucidation of distributions.…”

“…All three females of the five specimens forming the type series of octomastis , including the type itself (AMNH 55718), do exhibit eight prominent mammary glands, but we also have verified this count on numerous females within series of P. delectorum , P. melanotus , and P. taitae . The trait is appropriately considered a characteristic of the P. delectorum species group, a contrast that distinguishes it from most members of the P. jacksoni group (Lecompte et al ., 2002a; P. degraaffi also possesses eight teats –Van der Straeten & Kerbis Peterhans, 1999).…”

Speciation mirrors geomorphology and palaeoclimatic history in African laminate-toothed rats (Muridae: Otomyini) of the Otomys denti and Otomys lacustris species-complexes in the ‘Montane Circle’ of East Africa

“…Recent studies of montane rodents, shrews, bats, and birds occupying the east African 'montane circle' (that chain of mountain ranges associated with the African Rift and Eastern Arc archipelago and forming a rough circular configuration) have demonstrated the importance of the geologically and biologically diverse mountain ranges in promoting speciation and phylogeographic structuring in different animal populations occupying them (Kerbis Peterhans et al, 1998;Van der Straeten & Kerbis Peterhans, 1999;Stanley & Hutterer, 2000;Fahr et al, 2002;Bowie et al, 2004Bowie et al, , 2006Carleton & Stanley, 2005 Olson et al, 2001) in the 'montane circle' in relation to distribution of Otomys denti s.l. and Otomys lacustris s.l.…”

Small mammal diversity and habitat requirements in the Kahuzi‐Biega National Park and surrounding areas, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo

“…Some species reported in the previous works in the area, such as Lophuromys cinereus (Dieterlen , 1976a and Dendromus kahuziensis (Dieterlen 1976b) were absent in the subsequent studies because specimens were collected in localized habitats where no other study was possible at the time of our research. The other species (Atherurus africanus, Dasimus bentheyae, Funisciurus carruthersi, Grammomys surdaster, Mus gratus and Praomys degraaffi) were present but either not recorded or must have been misidentified as was the case for Praomys degraaffi which was previously identified as P. jacksoni by our team and all the previous workers in the region (van der Straeten & Kerbis 1999).…”