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| Thomas' Masked Tree Rat | Chiromyscus thomasi
Balakirev, Abramov & Rozhnov, 2014
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Abstract
Based on molecular data for mitochondrial (Cyt b, COI) and nuclear (IRBP, GHR) genes, and morphological examinations of museum specimens, we examined diversity, species boundaries, and relationships within and between the murine genera Chiromyscus and Niviventer. Phylogenetic patterns recovered demonstrate that Niviventer sensu lato is not monophyletic but instead includes Chiromyscus chiropus, the only previously recognized species of Chiropus. To maintain the genera Niviventer and Chiropus as monophyletic lineages, the scope and definition of the genus Chiromyscus is revised to include at least three distinct species: Chiromyscus chiropus (the type species of Chiromyscus), C. langbianis (previously regarded as a species of Niviventer), and a new species, described in this paper under the name C. thomasi sp. n.
Keywords: White-bellied rats, Fea’s tree rat, Southeast Asia, Vietnam, molecular phylogeny, taxonomy, new species
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| The paratype of Chiromyscus thomasi sp. n., Son La Province, northern Vietnam,
specimen ZIN 101651, genetic voucher MC80.
A Lateral view B Dorsal view C Ventral view D Head, face view E Head, lateral view F Hallux of the hind foot with the nail. |
Alexander Balakirev, Alexei Abramov and Viatcheslav Rozhnov. 2014. Phylogenetic Relationships in the Niviventer-Chiromyscus complex (Rodentia, Muridae) inferred from Molecular Data, with Description of A New Species. ZooKeys. 451: 109–136. doi: dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.451.7210
