Mitochondrial DNA and morphometrical identification of a new species of Hylomyscus (Rodentia: Muridae) from West Africa

Abstract

In this paper we describe a new species of Hylomyscus based on molecular (Cyt b and 16S rDNA gene sequencing) and morphometrical analyses. This new species occurs in Benin and Nigeria, and probably also in Togo. It differs by 8.29 to 10.40 % of sequence divergence (K2P distance for the Cyt b gene) from all other species of the H. alleni species complex, and can be distinguished from these species through morphometrical multivariate analyses. It differs significantly from its closest relative, H. simus, by four external and nine cranio-dental measurements. The role of rivers and Pleistocene forest refugia in the diversification of the H. alleni species complex is discussed.