Confirmation of the occurrence of &lt;i&gt;Mus neavei&lt;/i&gt; in South Africa

C.H Newbery,G.N Bronner

doi:10.4102/koedoe.v45i2.30

Abstract

Neave’s mouse, Mus neavei (Thomas, 1910), occurs in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Zambia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and South Africa (Petter 1981; Musser & Carleton 1993), with the latter record based on material from owl pellets taken at Makapansgat (Pocock 1974). Pocock’s record was disputed by Swanepoel et al. (1980), and in the absence of complete voucher specimens, the occurrence of this species in South Africa was regarded as doubtful. However, it was supported by Meester et al. (1986) and accepted by Musser & Carleton (1993).

Highlights

As part of a small mammal survey of the former Transvaal Provincial Administration Nature Reserves, the Wolkberg Wilderness Area was visited in June 1992
A Mus specimen (TM43399) collected by the first author on 9 June 1992 was identified by the second author as Mus sorella neavei, Mus neavei (Musser & Carleton, 1993) on the basis of mandibular and dental characters (Table 1)
A second specimen of Mus neavei (TM44218) was subsequently collected in the same area (± 3 km away) on 12 May 1993 and identified by the same suite of characters. Both specimens were caught on the farm Klipdraai 3KT, Wolkberg Wilderness Area, Limpopo Province, South Africa

Summary

Introduction

As part of a small mammal survey of the former Transvaal Provincial Administration Nature Reserves, the Wolkberg Wilderness Area was visited in June 1992. A Mus specimen (TM43399) collected by the first author on 9 June 1992 was identified by the second author as Mus sorella neavei, Mus neavei (Musser & Carleton, 1993) on the basis of mandibular and dental characters (Table 1). This identification was confirmed by both T.

Results

Conclusion