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(A) Niviventer fengi Ge, Feijó & Yang; (B) Niviventer fulvescens (Gray, 1847); (D) Niviventer mekongis (Robinson & Kloss, 1922); (E) Niviventer cremoriventer (Miller, 1900). in Ge, Feijó, Abramov, Wen, ... et Yang, 2021. |
Abstract
The Niviventer fulvescens species complex (NFSC), a group of abundant and taxonomically ambiguous rodent taxa, is distributed from Southeast Asia to south-eastern China. We combined molecular and morphological datasets to clarify the species composition and variation of the NFSC. Our phylogenetic analyses, using molecular data, recovered eight genetic lineages in the NFSC, including a novel, distinct lineage from Jilong, Tibet, China, which is described as a new species, Niviventer fengi sp. nov. The species status of N. fengi is supported by a species delimitation analysis, and it is morphologically distinguished from other members of the NFSC by its greyish dorsal fur, soft hairs covering the whole body and a hairy tail. NFSC species bearing well-developed spines are found at lower elevations. A comprehensive taxonomic revision of the NFSC within China is provided, represented by five species: N. cremoriventer, N. fulvescens, N. huang, N. mekongis comb. nov. and N. fengi. A further study of this species complex, including samples from Southeast Asia, is needed.
Keywords: mammals, molecular phylogeny, morphological comparison, Murinae, new species, rats, rodents
Order Rodentia
Suborder Myomorpha
Superfamily Muroidea
Family Muridae
Subfamily Murinae
Genus Niviventer Marshall, 1976
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Comparison of the skin and skull of Niviventer fengi with closely related species. Niviventer fengi, A1, A2, IOZCAS JL17111; A3, A4, IOZCASJL17059, HBL = 146. Niviventer fulvescens, B1, B2, IOZCAS JD113; B3, B4, JL17057, HBL = 120. Niviventer huang, C1, C2, NHM 98.11.1.16; C3, C4, IOZCAS HN2017242, HBL = 125. Niviventer mekongis, D1, D2, NHM 26.11.17.13; D3, D4, ZIN102439, HBL = 134. Niviventer cremoriventer, E1, E2, KMIOZCAS; E3, E4. KMIOZCAS, HBL = 107. |
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| Niviventer mekongis, D1, D2, NHM 26.11.17.13; D3, D4, ZIN102439, HBL = 134. Niviventer cremoriventer, E1, E2, KMIOZCAS; E3, E4. KMIOZCAS, HBL = 107. |
Niviventer cremoriventer (Miller, 1900)
Sundaic arboreal niviventer or dark-tailed tree rat.
Distribution: This species occupies the widest distribution range of members of the NFSC and is widely distributed in the Malay Peninsula, Sunda Islands and Southeast Asia. It was also discovered in Modao River, Jingdong, Yunnan Province, China.
Sympatric species: In China, N. cremoriventer has an overlapping distribution with C. langbianis, N. bukit, and N. mekongis. It is a typical rat of low and middle elevations (183–275 m) with a uniformly dark tail.
Niviventer fulvescens (Gray, 1847)
Indomalayan niviventer, chestnut white-bellied rat.
Distribution: Nepal, south-western China and northern Indochina. In China it is distributed in higher mountains from south-western Yunnan to south-eastern Tibet.
Sympatric species: The distribution of N. fulvescens largely overlaps with those of N. andersoni and N. niviventer. The last two species also inhabit middle to high-elevation mountains in southern China. Niviventer andersoni is distinguishable by its larger size and bicoloured tail (the one-third near the tip is white) and N. niviventer belongs to the NNSC and has a darker pelage.
Niviventer huang (Bonhote, 1905)
Lowland niviventer, Lowland white-bellied rat.
Distribution: This species is distributed in central and eastern China, including Sichuan, Yunnan, Guangxi, Guangdong, Fujian, Zhejiang, Hunan, Hubei, Guizhou and Hainan Island.
Sympatric species: Niviventer huang occurs in sympatry with N. mekongis in south China, and the confirmed overlapping records are from Lincang Snow Mountain, Lincang and Menghai, both in southern Yunnan Province.
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| Niviventer fengi, A1, A2, IOZCAS JL17111; A3, A4, IOZCASJL17059, HBL = 146. Niviventer fulvescens, B1, B2, IOZCAS JD113; B3, B4, JL17057, HBL = 120. Niviventer huang, C1, C2, NHM 98.11.1.16; C3, C4, IOZCAS HN2017242, HBL = 125. |
Niviventer mekongis (Robinson & Kloss, 1922) comb. nov.
Mekong niviventer, Mekong white-bellied rat.
Rattus blythi mekongis Robinson & Kloss, 1922: 96. Bak Mat on the Mekong River (N 18º 53′), Laos.
Rattus bukit condorensis Kloss, 1926: 357. Pulo Condore, near the south-eastern coast of Cochinchina (Con Son Island, south Vietnam).
Distribution: Niviventer mekongis is confined to Vietnam, Laos and southern Yunnan and Guangxi Provinces of China.
Sympatric species: Niviventer mekongis occurs sympatrically with N. cremoriventer and N. bukit. Niviventer cremoriventer is easily distinguishable from N. mekongis by its uniformly black tail. Niviventer bukit is distinguishable from N. mekongis by its shorter TL and darker pelage colouration.
Niviventer fengi Ge, Feijó and Yang sp. nov.
Jilong soft-furred niviventer, Tibetan white-bellied rat.
Etymology: We named this new species in honour of Prof. Zuojian Feng from IOZCAS for the great contribution to the study of mammals in China.
Distribution: This species is known from Jilong Valley, Rikaze, Tibet Province, China, near the Nepalese border. Etymology: We named this new species in honour of Prof. Zuojian Feng from IOZCAS for the great contribution to the study of mammals in China.
Sympatric species: Niviventer fengi is sympatric with N. fulvescens and N. eha, but they are distinct in external morphology.
Deyan Ge, Anderson Feijó, Alexei V Abramov, Zhixin Wen, Zhengjia Liu, Jilong Cheng, Lin Xia, Liang Lu and Qisen Yang. 2021. Molecular Phylogeny and Morphological Diversity of the Niviventer fulvescens Species Complex with Emphasis on Species from China. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 191(2); 528–547. DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaa040
