Gotel Mountain Praomys

discussion

Discussion: Hutterer et al. (1992 a) described obscurus as a subspecies of P. hartwigi. Those authors were also impressed with the morphological distinctions between typical P. hartwigi from Mt. Oku and obscurus from the Gotel Mtns and were unsure whether to treat the latter as a subspecies of P. hartwigi (Dieterlen’s opinion) or a separate species (Hutterer’s view). We treat obscurus as a separate species because contrasted with P. hartwigi it has much darker pelage, larger body measurements, but significantly smaller cranial and dental measurements (Hutterer et al., 1992 a); this proposal was recently advocated by Hutterer (in litt., 2003). Praomys obscurus is morphologically and phylogenetically most closely related to P. hartwigi (see that account), which occurs in mountain forest on the Bamenda Plateau to the southwest of the Gotel Mtns; both species are members of the P. tullbergi complex (Hutterer et al., 1992 a).

Order Rodentia - Family Muridae

distribution

Distribution: Recorded only from fern-grassland, swamp and gallery forest, and along forest streams at the type locality and nearby Chappal Waddi.

Order Rodentia - Family Muridae

materials_examined

Type Locality: SE Nigeria, Mambilla Plateau, Gotel Mtns, Gangirwal, 2300 m (coordinates and habitat information provided by Hutterer et al., 1992 a).

Order Rodentia - Family Muridae

biology_ecology

Habitat. Relic patches of forest and associated habitats at elevations of 1900 - 2300 m. Food and Feeding. No information. Breeding. Based on a sample of two Gotel Mountain Soft-furred Mice, litters have 3 - young. Activity patterns. The Gotel Mountain Soft-furred Mouse is nocturnal and terrestrial. Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Muridae