Brush-furred mouse

The brush-furred mice, genus Lophuromys are a group of rodents found in sub-Saharan Africa. They are members of the subfamily Deomyinae, a group only identifiable through molecular analysis. Lophuromys is also known as the brush-furred rats, harsh-furred rats or coarse-haired mice.

Brush-furred mice
Temporal range:
Rusty-bellied brush-furred rat (Lophuromys sikapusi)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Muridae
Subfamily: Deomyinae
Genus: Lophuromys
Peters, 1874
Type species
Lasiomys afer Temminck, 1853 (= Mus sikapusi Temminck, 1853)[1]
Species

See text

Characteristics

The brush-furred mice are so named due to the unique, stiff hairs that make up their pelage. The texture is similar to a soft brush. They are peculiar looking for several reasons. The coat varies depending on species, but ranges from tan to greenish greys and dark brown. Some species have an almost purplish tint to the pelage and others can be speckled. The underside is rusty, orange, brown, or cream-colored. They are chunky mice with relatively short legs.

Most animals have noticeable scars, notched ears, or are missing part of their tails. The skin is delicate and the animals appear to use this as a predator avoidance technique. The tail breaks easily and may be lost so that the animal can escape. Once lost, it does not regenerate. The skin tears easily, particularly in strategic positions such as the scruff of the neck. In fact, if an animal is held by the scruff of the neck, it is capable of struggling its way free by tearing itself loose, leaving behind a patch of skin containing hair and skin. Specimens found in museums are rarely seen that lack tears that have been sewn together.

Habitat and diet

Brush-furred mice appear to require moist areas and perhaps grasses. They are generally excluded from dry savannahs and forests with dense canopies. They are variable in degree of diurnality versus nocturnality.

They appear to feed more on animal matter than most muroids. The proportion of animal material in the diet ranges from 40 to 100% depending on species.[2] Food consists of ants, other insects and invertebrates, small vertebrates, carrion, and plant matter.

Behaviour

Brush-furred mice are solitary and are reported to fight when placed together. This may contribute to the wounds found on individuals. A brush-furred mouse was recorded to have lived for over 3 years in captivity.

Allopatric speciation appears to have played an important role in shaping the evolution of this genus. Research conducted on the group suggests that isolated species exist a relatively short distance away from one another. Gene flow is either absent or greatly restricted among these isolated pockets. This has led to differences detectable by karyotype, allozymes, and DNA sequencing. The number of recognized species in this genus has increased in recent years and is probably still not representative of the true diversity of this group.

Species

21 species were accepted in this genus in 2005.[1] This number has grown to 34.[3]

References
  1. Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M., eds. (2005). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
  2. Dieterlen, F. (1976). "Die afrikanische Muridengattung Lophuromys Peters, 1874". Stuttgarter Beitr. Naturkunde. A (285).
  3. "Lophuromys". ASM Mammal Diversity Database. American Society of Mammalogists.
  4. Lavrenchenko, L.A.; Verheyen, W.N.; Verheyen, E.; Hulselmans, J.; Leirs, H. (2007). "Morphometric and genetic study of Ethiopian Lophuromys flavopunctatus Thomas, 1888 species complex with description of three new 70-chromosomal species (Muridae, Rodentia)". Bulletin van het Koninklijk Belgisch Instituut voor Natuurwetenschappen, Biologie. 77: 77–117. S2CID 90014299.
  5. Verheyen, W.N.; Hulselmans, J.L.J.; Dierckx, T.; Mulungu, L.; Leirs, H.; Corti, M.; Verheyen, E. (2007). "The characterization of the Kilimanjaro Lophuromys aquilus True 1892 population and the description of five new Lophuromys species (Rodentia, Muridae)". Bulletin van Het Koninklijk Belgisch Instituut voor Natuurwetenschappen, Biologie. 77: 23–75.

Further reading
  • Andrew Duff and Ann Lawson (2004). Mammals of the World: A checklist. A & C Black. ISBN 071366021X.
  • Kingdon, J. 1997. The Kingdon Field Guide to African Mammals. Academic Press Limited, London.
  • Nowak, Ronald M. 1999. Walker's Mammals of the World, 6th edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, 1936 pp. ISBN 0-8018-5789-9
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