Guinean Arvicanthis

discussion

Discussion: 2 n = 62, FNa = 76 (Volobouev et al., 2002 a). This is the species separated from A. niloticus and identified as chromosomal type ANI- 4, and the subject of studies incorporating data from chromosomes, allozymes, mtDNA cytochrome b sequences, and morphometrics (Capanna et al., 1996 b; Capula et al., 1997; Civitelli et al., 1995; Corti et al., 1996 b; Ducroz et al., 1998; Fadda and Corti, 2001; Garagna et al., 1999; Volobouev et al., 2002 a). This species and A. blicki are the largest in body size among the species of Arvicanthis (Fadda and Corti, 2001). Phylogenetic analysis of mtDNA cytochrome b sequences by Ducroz et al. (1998) indicated that A. rufinus is most closely related to samples from the Central African Republic (2 n = 58, FNa = 70), an affinity also supported by chromosomal data even though the karyotypes seem very different (Volobouev et al., 1987, 2002 a), but contradicted by three-dimensional geometric morphometric analysis (Fadda and Corti, 2001). All available data, including morphometrics (Fadda and Corti, 2001) point to the Central African Republic sample as representing a distinct species, but additional and larger samples from Central Africa must be

Order Rodentia - Family Muridae

distribution

Distribution: Guinean and southern Sudanian deciduous forest and woodland savannas, and clearings in adjacent evergreen forest belt from Sierra Leone through Benin and Ghana to S Nigeria (Ducroz et al., 1998; Fadda and Corti, 2001; Volobouev et al., 2002 a).

Order Rodentia - Family Muridae

activity

Activity patterns. The Guinean Grass Rat is diurnal and terrestrial.

Muridae

biology_ecology

Habitat. Guinean and southern Sudanian deciduous forest and woodland savannas, as well as clearings in adjacent evergreen forests.

Muridae