Morphometric and morphological delineation of southern African species of Aethomys (Rodentia: Muridae)

Abstract

Five species of African rock rats, Aethomys namaquensis, A. granti, A. silindensis, A. nyikae and A. chrysophilus, have to date been recognized in southern Africa. While the first three species are craniometrically well-delineated, morphometric analysis of cytogenetically known and other specimens of A. chrysophilus revealed that it comprises two sympatric, morphologically similar species, the nominate species and the newly recognized A. ineptus. This is in agreement with observations on cranial morphology and earlier investigations involving cytogenetics, protein electrophoresis, and gross sperm and bacular morphology. Contrary to published reports, the Central African A. nyikae does not extend into southern Africa, and the single previous record from eastern Zimbabwe is probably based on a misidentification.