I am interested in learning the status of the following species with regards to the hairiness of the bottom side of their hind feet. The references I cite below are silent on this issue (for these species) which leads me to believe that they are all naked-footed. However, I would greatly appreciate it if someone who is familiar with these species could confirm this for me/correct me on this issue.
Lophuromys xena
Lophuromys flavopunctatus
Lophuromys brevicaudus
Lophuromys melanonyx
Lophuromys chrysopus
Lophuromys sikapusi
Lophuromys woosnami
Uranomys ruddi
Lophiomys imhausi
Refs:
Mammals of Africa, Kingdon et al, 2013; Mammals of Sub-Saharan Africa, Monadjem et al, 2015; Kingdon Field Guide to African mammals, Kingdon 2015; Walker’s Mammals of the World, Nowak 1999; The Mammals of the Southern African Subregion, Skinner and Chimimba, 2005.
I have come across your question on Research Gate. For all the African Lophuromys that you iist, the soles of the hindfeet are naked, as are the soles for Uranomys ruddi. I do not know about Lophiomys, but I suspect that the soles are naked. I do not know Lophuromys xena - this specific name is not listed in Mammal Species of the World (Musser and Carleton 2005), so I think this name is a mistake. "Hairy / Non- hairy" is useful for identifying gerbils (as you have in Jordon) but murids by and large do not have hairy soles on the hindfeet - which is why it is not mentioned in species accounts. Hope this help. Best wishes - David Happold ([email protected]) [I was the editor of Mammals of Africa Vol 3 - Rodents so I have looked at this fairly carefully!!]
I have discovered that the species name zena (not xena as you have written) is considered as a synonym of Lophuromys flavopunctation by Dieterlen in Mammals of Africa Vol 3 (ed. David Happold) , p 246. However, L zena is listed as valid species by Carleton and Musser (in Wilson and Reeder 2005) [Apologies - reference given in earlier posting is incorrect]
As I am working on the Arsi Mountains rodents, I confirmed
Lophuromys flavopunctatus
Lophuromys brevicaudus
Lophuromys melanonyx
Lophuromys chrysopus
Lophuromys sikapusi possess the naked hind foot.
Good - I am sure you are correct, Please give my regards to Afework Bekele .... I see yo are both in the aame University. Best wishes - David
Hi Prof. David Happold,
Nice to meet you. I read many of your articles and books. I appreciate you a lot for your contribution for African mammals conservation. Yes Prof. Afework Bekele and me are in one department and university. He is my supervisor for my PhD project. Unfortunately for the moment he is in USA for summer vacation. I will pass your regards just as he come back.
Dear Dr. Happold, thank you for taking the time to answer my question. Basically, that leaves Lophioumys as the only taxon for which the foot hairiness status is not ascertained.
Haya
P.S. Apologies for the Louphuromys zena typo.
Dear Mohammad Geda, many thanks for confirming the hairiness state of the 4 Louphuromys species.
H.
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