On a new species of Dendromus (Rodentia, Nesomyidae) from Mount Nimba, Guinea

Abstract

The taxonomic position of the westernmost representatives of the genus Dendromus in Africa is clarifi ed herein associated with the recent capture of specimens in a range of habitats and elevations on Mount Nimba, Guinea. On the basis of morphological, morphometric and cytogenetic characters, we describe these animals as a new species. The distinguishing characteristics of the new species, with respect to D. melanotis and D. mystacalis from Gabon and Ghana, include the absence of a dorsal stripe and a larger body size. The new species is also smaller in size than D. oreas from Mount Cameroon. The new species has morphological similarities with karyotyped specimens of D. messorius from Ippy (Central African Republic) and the so-called D. melanotis from La Mabok e , Gabon, but has a distinct karyotype. It is close in morphology to D. messorius from the Cameroon lowlands. This is the fi rst time G and C banding were employed for members of the genus Dendromus, and the karyotype of the new species confi rms that it may be a sibling species of the D. messorius “ complex ” , for which the distribution and measure of species diversity in west central Africa are far from resolved. The new species occurs in Guinean and Liberian montane savannas of Mount Nimba and in banana and quinine plantations around Mount Ziama, Guinea. It is also known from the Ivory Coast. The presence of this new species highlights the importance of altitude savannas and forests of the Nimba region for conservation.