Cytotaxonomy of rodent species from Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and Zambia
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Date
2005
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Belg. J. Zool
Abstract
An extended survey of taxa belonging to two genera of Cricetomyinae (Cricetomys and Saccostomus),
one Gerbillinae (Gerbilliscus), eight Murinae (Acomys, Aethomys, Arvicanthis, Lemniscomys, Mus (Nannomys),
Mastomys, Grammomys, Stenocephalemys) and one Myoxidae (Graphiurus) was carried out as part of the EU
programme “Staplerat” involving Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and Zambia. Here we report the diploid and autosomal
fundamental numbers of these rodent taxa. Seventeen of them were unknown, for four we report chromosomal variants
and for another 16 new localities where they occur. We discuss their specific status taking into consideration
our results together with data from literature and highlight the problems in taxonomy and systematics that are yet to
be solved, due do their extended range and the occurrence of species complexes. We highlight cases for which there
should be a re-evaluation of specific names that were not included in the last rodent checklist.
Description
Belg. J. Zool., 135 (supplement) : 197-216
Keywords
Cytogenetics, Rodents, Taxonomy, East Africa