A new species of African Mole-rat (<i>Fukomys</i>, Bathyergidae, Rodentia) from the Zaire-Zambezi Watershed

Abstract

A new species of bathyergid mole-rat, Fukomys vandewoestijneae, is described from an area on the Zaïre-Zambezi watershed, centred on the Ikelenge pedicle in the NorthWestern province of Zambia. It is diagnosed by a unique combination of morphological (size, lack of clear headmarks), chromosomal (2n= 44) and DNA sequence characteristics. This medium-sized species belongs to the Giant mole-rat "F. mechowii" clade, which was hitherto considered monotypic. Its known distribution is limited to the Ikelenge pedicle of Zambia and adjacent areas in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and presumably Angola. Colonies of this social mole-rat were observed in the chanas (dambos), degraded miombo woodland and in villages. Although presumably sympatric in historical times with F. mechowii, no overlap in the species current distribution could be established. This local endemic species adds further evidence to the conservation importance of the two-pedicle region (Ikelenge pedicle (Zambia)ŰKatanga pedicle (DRC)).

Relic populations ofFukomysmole-rats in Tanzania: description of two new speciesF. livingstonisp. nov. andF. hanangensissp. nov.

“…correspond to those cited in the text, Fig. 2 and Table 1, other species are designated according to current taxonomic understanding and GenBank Accession Numbers (Van Daele et al, 2007a; Van Daele et al, 2013; Faulkes et al, 2010). …”

“…The sequence of F. zechi from Ghana constitutes an extant representative of an early diverging lineage in the Fukomys clade, supporting previous studies that extra-limital populations of Fukomys in West and central Africa represent relic populations from an initial radiation of ancestral Fukomys (Ingram, Burda & Honeycutt, 2004). Next a clade containing F. mechowii , F. bocagei and the recently described F. vandewoestijineae (Van Daele et al, 2013) constitute a group of species distributed through central and west central Africa (Zambia and Angola), with an earlier common ancestor to the populations found at the geographically distant Ujiji. All trees consistently placed the animals collected from Ujiji and Hanang/Mbulu in reciprocally monophyletic groups, separated by the divergence of a major clade containing F. darlingi , F. damarensis , and F. micklemi / F. kafuensis .…”

“…Species and sample sizes as indicated (squares denote males, circles females, diamond symbol, sexes unknown). All data from Kingdom et al (2013) except F. vandewoestinjneae (Van Daele et al, 2013). …”

Phylogeny and biogeography of the African Bathyergidae: a review of patterns and processes

“…Because of their eusocial nature (relatively uncommon amongst mammals), Heterocephalus and Fukomys have received much attention (Bennett & Jarvis, 1988; Nevo & Reig, 1990; Sherman, Jarvis & Alexander, 1991; Jarvis & Bennett, 1993; Nevo, 1999; Bennett & Faulkes, 2000; Lacey, Patton & Cameron, 2000; Faulkes & Bennett, 2007, 2009), leaving the other genera largely under-investigated by comparison (but see Honeycutt et al, 1987; Allard & Honeycutt, 1992; Faulkes et al, 1997; Walton, Nedbal & Honeycutt, 2000; Huchon & Douzery, 2001). Recent systematic/phylogeographic studies have hinted that diversity within the family is notably under-represented (Faulkes et al, 2004; Ingram, Burda & Honeycutt, 2004; Visser, Bennett & Jansen van Vuuren, 2014, 2018, 2019) and as a result, several species have recently been described (Honeycutt et al, 1991; Aguilar, 1993; Macholan et al, 1998; Burda et al, 1999; Chitaukali, Burda & Kock, 2001; Gippoliti & Amori, 2011; Van Daele et al, 2013; Faulkes et al, 2017), with further suggestions of possibly undescribed species in Heliophobius (Faulkes et al, 2011), Georychus , Bathyergus and Cryptomys (Visser, Bennett & Jansen van Vuuren, 2019).…”

Effects of Sex and Breeding Status on Skull Morphology in Cooperatively Breeding Ansell’s Mole-Rats and an Appraisal of Sexual Dimorphism in the Bathyergidae

“…Summary of linear cranial measurements collected for multivariate morphometric analysis. and the alveoli of the upper incisors Length of upper alveolar row UPAL Length of upper tooth row, measured at the alveolar margins.Measurements were adopted and modified from VanDaele et al (2013). Schematic drawing of a male Ansell's mole-rat skull with annotated linear measurements and landmarks used in this study.…”