Himalayan Field Mouse

discussion

Discussion: Sylvaemus group. Originally described as a subspecies of Mus sylvaticus, retained as a subspecies of Apodemus sylvaticus (Ellerman, 1941; Ellerman and Morrison-Scott, 1951), treated as a synonym of that species (Corbet, 1978 c; Pavlinov and Rossolimo, 1987), and finally included in A. uralensis (Musser and Carleton, 1993; Pavlinov and Rossolimo, 1998; Pavlinov et al., 1995 a). Mezhzherin (1997 a), who examined the holotype, used pallipes for a species phylogenetically related to A. uralensis, but larger in body size with paler dorsum, more white on underparts, and occurring farther south in the Pamirs of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, and mountainous N Afghanistan and Pakistan. Many of the specimens in the institutions cited above, especially those from high altitudes (Kashmir, for example), conform to original descriptions of pallipes (Barrett-Hamilton, 1990) and wardi from Kashmir (Wroughton, 1908 b); specimens from lower altitudes tend to have darker pelage, matching pentax (Wroughton, 1908 b) from Thandiani in N Pakistan. Our study of large series in AMNH, FMNH, and USNM (including types and topotypes) supports Mezhzherin’s view, and allowed us to expand the range eastw

Order Rodentia - Family Muridae

distribution

Distribution: Pamirs and adjacent mountainous extensions in S Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan (Mezhzherin, 1997 a); south through the Hindu Kush and auxiliary high ranges of N Afghanistan from Herat Province in the west (FMNH specimens) to Kabul region (FMNH) and provinces of Badakhshan (FMNH) and Konar (FMNH 103601) in the east; Pamirs and Himalayas in N Pakistan in districts of Chitral (material in AMNH), Swat (USNM series), Dir (USNM), Hazara (large USNM samples, including USNM 411143 and 411144, which are topotypes of pentax), Gilgit (USNM specimens), and Baltistan (USNM); Jammu-Kashmir region of NW India (USNM and AMNH material); eastward through Himalayas to C Nepal (specimens in FMNH) and possibly SW Xizang (Tibet). Altitudinal range, 1465 - 3965 m, with most records from above 2440 m.

Order Rodentia - Family Muridae

materials_examined

Type Locality: E Tajikistan, Pamir Altai, Surhad Wahkan; see Barrett-Hamilton (1900: 417) and Mezhzherin (1997 a: 38) for condition of holotype.

Order Rodentia - Family Muridae

biology_ecology

Habitat. Coniferous and rhododendronforests at 1465 - 3965 m.

Muridae