Cansdale's Malacomys

discussion

REMARKS This large species is represented on Mount Nimba by a single specimen found during Mission 2 in Bentor 1 (Liberia). The tail is bicolored and there is a light frontal spot. The holotype of M. cansdalei displays a white belly sharply delimited from the brown dorsal pelage. The specimen DM 13173 was barcoded and its Cyt B sequence fits well with other specimens of M. cansdalei. The new Nimba specimen DM 13173 displays very long hindfeet (42.7 mm) and its external measurements fit well the M. cansdalei holotype and paratypes (Table 7). The holotype displays small and short incisor foramina; the pterygoid fossa is well behind the M 3 which distinguishes the species from M. edwardsi according to Bellier & Gautun (1968). The molar rows are very narrow like in M. edwardsi and relatively small compared to the skull length. The strong t 1 of the upper M 1 is not isolated from the t 2 and t 3 and is posterior compared to the t 2 - t 3. The t 2 and t 3 are not well differentiated, fused in a single transverse lobe. The t 4 is posterior to the t 5 and t 6 and display a small longitudinal crest. The t 9 is small but it remains visible on M 1 but not on M 2. The upper M 3 has a big t 1 l

Annotated checklist of rodents from a biodiversity hotspot, Mount Nimba (West Africa)

discussion

Discussion: Part of the murine fauna endemic to West Africa (see account of Grammomys buntingi). Rautenbach and Schlitter (1978) considered cansdalei a subspecies of M. longipes, but Van der Straeten and Verheyen (1979 b) demonstrated its specific distinction. Grubb et al. (1998) reviewed the Ghana population.

Order Rodentia - Family Muridae

distribution

Distribution: Forest zone of S Ghana, S Côte d’Ivoire, and E Liberia.

Order Rodentia - Family Muridae

discussion

COMMENTS: Part of the murine fauna endemic to West Africa (see account of Grammomys buntingi). Rautenbach and Schütter (1978) considered cansdalei a subspecies of M. longipes.

Order Rodentia - Family Muridae