The Zoochat Photographic Guide to Rodents: part two

Murinae (Old World or "true" rats and mice)

About 650 species in about 135 extant genera: Abditomys, Abeomelomys, Aethomys, Anisomys, Anonymomys, Apodemus, Apomys, Archboldomys, Arvicanthis, Bandicota, Batomys, Berylmys, Bullimus, Bunomys, Carpomys, Chiromyscus, Chiropodomys, Chiruromys, Chrotomys, Coccymys, Colomys, Conilurus, Crateromys, Crossomys, Cremnomys, Crunomys, Dacnomys, Dasymys, Dephomys, Desmomys, Diomys, Diplothrix, Echiothrix, Eropeplus, Golunda, Gracilimus, Grammomys, Hadromys, Haeromys, Halmaheramys, Hapalomys, Heimyscus, Hybomys, Hydromys, Hylomyscus, Hyomys, Hyorhinomys, Kadarsanomys, Komodomys, Lamottemys, Leggadina, Lemniscomys, Lemnomys, Lenothrix, Leopoldamys, Leporillus, Leptomys, Limnomys, Lorentzimys, Macruromys, Madromys, Malacomys, Mallomys, Mammelomys, Margaretamys, Mastacomys, Mastomys, Maxomys, Melasmothrix, Melomys, Mesembriomys, Micaelamys, Microhydromys, Micromys, Millardia, Mirzamys, Muriculus, Musseromys, Mus, Mylomys, Myomyscus, Myotomys, Nesokia, Nesoromys, Nilopegamys, Niviventer, Notomys, Oenomys, Otomys, Palawanomys, Papagomys, Parahydromys, Paraleptomys, Paramelomys, Parotomys, Paucidentomys, Paruromys, Paulamys, Pelomys, Phloeomys, Pithecheir, Pithecheirops, Pogonomelomys, Pogonomys, Praomys, Protochromys, Pseudohydromys, Pseudomys, Rattus, Rhabdomys, Rhynchomys, Saxatilomys, Solomys, Sommeromys, Soricomys, Srilankamys, Stenocephalemys, Stochomys, Sundamys, Taeromys, Tarsomys, Tateomys, Thallomys, Thamnomys, Tokudaia, Tonkinomys, Tryphomys, Uromys, Vandeleuria, Vernaya, Waiomys, Xenuromys, Xeromys, Zelotomys, Zyzomys


There are 55 species represented in the Zoochat galleries, from 27 genera: Aethomys, Apodemus, Arvicanthis, Chiropodomys, Crateromys, Grammomys, Hydromys, Lemniscomys, Leporillus, Malacomys, Mastomys, Melomys, Mesembriomys, Micromys, Mus, Myotomys, Niviventer, Notomys, Phloeomys, Pseudomys, Rattus, Rhabdomys, Thallomys, Tokudaia, Vandeleuria, Xeromys, Zyzomys



A monstrously large subfamily - larger than almost any Order of mammals, let alone other families or subfamilies - which is fraught with taxonomic issues. There is no Tribe arrangement for the entire subfamily, although this has at least been attempted for geographical areas (e.g. for Australasian murines). There are various unsatisfactory "groupings" or "divisions" of genera as a way to try and organise them collectively.

To get an idea of the complexity of the subfamily, a good place to start is the lengthy explanation in Wilson & Reeder's Mammal Species of the World: Mammal Species of the World - Browse: Murinae

The subfamily was split into 29 multi-generic divisions in the above, and this is followed on the Wikipedia page for Murinae where the lay-out is easy to appreciate at a glance (arranged geographically, with a number of recent generic additions and some reworking as the original set of divisions was made in 2005). I will follow these divisions here as that seems as good a way as any to organise the lists.
Murinae - Wikipedia


I will mention some recently-extinct genera in the following accounts, and will later also include recently-extinct species from extant genera.

Note that the geographic regions into which the groups are split are either where each group originated or where they are most diverse - it is not intended to signify that genera from divisions listed for a given geographic region are not also found in other regions. Obviously a number of the groups may be found over wider geographical areas (especially in divisions containing the larger genera such as Mus or Rattus).


Africa:
Aethomys division - two genera (Aethomys, Micaelamys)
Arvicanthis division - six genera (Arvicanthis, Desmomys, Lemniscomys, Mylomys, Pelomys, Rhabdomys)
Colomys division - three genera (Colomys, Nilopegamys, Zelotomys)
Dasymys division - one genus (Dasymys)
Hybomys division - three genera (Dephomys, Hybomys, Stochomys)
Malacomys division - one genus (Malacomys)
Oenomys division - five genera (Grammomys, Lamottemys, Oenomys, Thallomys, Thamnomys)
Otomys division - three genera (Myotomys, Otomys, Parotomys)
Stenocephalemys division - six genera (Heimyscus, Hylomyscus, Mastomys, Myomyscus, Praomys, Stenocephalemys)

Eurasia:
Apodemus division - two genera (Apodemus, Tokudaia)
Micromys division - six genera (Chiropodomys, Haeromys, Hapalomys, Micromys, Vandeleuria, Vernaya)
Mus division - two genera (Muriculus, Mus)

South and Southeast Asia:
Dacnomys division - eight genera (Anonymomys, Chiromyscus, Dacnomys, Leopoldamys, Niviventer, Saxatilomys, Srilankamys, Tonkinomys)
Golunda division - one genus (Golunda)
Hadromys division - one genus (Hadromys)
Maxomys division - one genus (Maxomys)
Millardia division - four genera (Cremnomys, Diomys, Madromys, Millardia)
Pithecheir division - six genera (Eropeplus, Lemnomys, Lenothrix, Margaretamys, Pithecheir, Pithecheirops)
Rattus division - twenty-one genera (Abditomys, Bandicota, Berylmys, Bullimus, Bunomys, Diplothrix, Halmaheramys, Kadarsanomys, Komodomys, Limnomys, Nesokia, Nesoromys, Palawanomys, Papagomys, Paruromys, Paulamys, Rattus, Sundamys, Taeromys, Tarsomys, Tryphomys)

Philippines:
Chrotomys division - five genera (Apomys, Archboldomys, Chrotomys, Rhynchomys, Soricomys)
Phloeomys division - five genera (Batomys, Carpomys, Crateromys, Musseromys, Phloeomys)

Sulawesi:
Crunomys division - two genera (Crunomys, Sommeromys)
Echiothrix division - one genus (Echiothrix)
Hyorhinomys - one genus (Hyorhinomys)
Melasmothrix division - two genera (Melasmothrix, Tateomys)
Paucidentomys - one genus (Paucidentomys)
Waiomys division - two genera (Gracilimus, Waiomys)

New Guinea:
Hydromys division - five genera (Crossomys, Hydromys, Microhydromys, Parahydromys, Paraleptomys)
Lorentzimys division - one genus (Lorentzimys)
Pogonomys division - eleven genera (Abeomelomys, Anisomys, Chiruromys, Coccymys, Hyomys, Macruromys, Mallomys, Mammelomys, Pogonomelomys, Pogonomys, Xenuromys)
Uromys division - five genera (Melomys, Paramelomys, Protochromys, Solomys, Uromys)
Xeromys division - four genera (Leptomys, Mirzamys, Pseudohydromys, Xeromys)

Australia:
Pseudomys division - eight genera (Conilurus, Leggadina, Leporillus, Mastacomys, Mesembriomys, Notomys, Pseudomys, Zyzomys)


I will cover all the genera in the order they appear above (i.e. by geographical region, and then alphabetically by division).

 

The first groups of genera I will cover are the African murines. All the species within these generic divisions are found exclusively in Africa (with a limited extension into the Middle East).


Aethomys division - two genera (Aethomys, Micaelamys), containing eleven species.

One species from the genus Aethomys is represented in the Zoochat galleries.


Arvicanthis division - six genera (Arvicanthis, Desmomys, Lemniscomys, Mylomys, Pelomys, Rhabdomys), containing about thirty species.

There are seven species represented in the Zoochat galleries, from three genera (Arvicanthis, Lemniscomys, Rhabdomys).


Colomys division - three genera (Colomys, Nilopegamys, Zelotomys), containing four to seven species.

None of the species are represented in the Zoochat galleries.


Dasymys division - one genus (Dasymys), containing about fifteen species.

None of the species are represented in the Zoochat galleries.


Hybomys division - three genera (Dephomys, Hybomys, Stochomys), containing nine species.

None of the species are represented in the Zoochat galleries.


Malacomys division - one genus (Malacomys), containing three species.

One of the species is represented in the Zoochat galleries.


Oenomys division - five genera (Grammomys, Lamottemys, Oenomys, Thallomys, Thamnomys), containing about 23 species.

There are three species represented in the Zoochat galleries, from the genera Grammomys and Thallomys.


Otomys division - three genera (Myotomys, Otomys, Parotomys), containing about 35 species.

One species from the genus Myotomys is represented in the Zoochat galleries.


Stenocephalemys division - six genera (Heimyscus, Hylomyscus, Mastomys, Myomyscus, Praomys, Stenocephalemys), containing about fifty species.

One species from the genus Mastomys is represented in the Zoochat galleries.

 

Aethomys division
Two genera (Aethomys, Micaelamys), containing eleven species.

These two genera were formerly combined under Aethomys. They are called either Rock Rats or Veld Rats.


One species of Aethomys is represented in the Zoochat galleries.


.................................................................


Aethomys
Nine species, one of which is represented in the Zoochat galleries.


Red Rock Rat Aethomys chrysophilus
Two subspecies: chrysophilus and imago

Formerly the Tete Rock Rat A. ineptus was included in this species, and when they were split the remaining seven or so subspecies were placed under A. ineptus. The Red Rock Rat is found in southern Africa, but only in the extreme north margin of South Africa (where the below photo was taken, near Skukuza), while the Tete Veld Rat is found throughout South Africa.


Photo by @BeardsleyZooFan of a wild-caught animal, South Africa (subspecies chrysophilus) (the animal on the right of the photo)


Bushveld Gerbil and Red Veld Rat - ZooChat



The remaining species in the genus are as follows:

Bocage's Rock Rat Aethomys bocagei
Hinde's Rock Rat Aethomys hindei
Tete Rock Rat Aethomys ineptus
Kaiser's Rock Rat Aethomys kaiseri
Nyika Rock Rat Aethomys nyikae
Silinda Rock Rat Aethomys silindensis
Tinfields Rock Rat Aethomys stannarius
Thomas' Rock Rat Aethomys thomasi


.................................................................


Micaelamys
Two species

Grant's Rock Rat Micaelamys granti
Namaqua Rock Rat Micaelamys namaquensis

 

Arvicanthis division
Six genera (Arvicanthis, Desmomys, Lemniscomys, Mylomys, Pelomys, Rhabdomys), containing about thirty species.

Seven species are represented in the Zoochat galleries, from three genera (Arvicanthis, Lemniscomys, Rhabdomys).


.................................................................


Arvicanthis
Seven species, three of which are represented in the Zoochat galleries.


Blick's Grass Rat Arvicanthis blicki
Monotypic

Photo by @Maguari in the wild, Ethiopia


Blick's Grass Rat in Bale Mountains NP, 15/10/14 - ZooChat


Neumann's Grass Rat Arvicanthis neumanni
May contain two or more species (A. somalicus may be separable).

Photo by @ro6ca66 at Cotswold Wildlife Park (UK)


Neumanns grass rat : Cotswold WP : 14 Aug 2016 - ZooChat


African Grass Rat Arvicanthis niloticus
Kingdon's Mammals of Africa lists 26 synonyms, but considers this species to have no valid subspecies.

Photo by @Maguari at Prague Zoo (Czech Republic)


Nile Grass Rat at Prague, 24/05/10 - ZooChat


The remaining species in the genus Arvicanthis are below:

Ethiopian Grass Rat Arvicanthis abyssinicus
Sudan Grass Rat Arvicanthis ansorgei
Nairobi Grass Rat Arvicanthis nairobae
Guinea Grass Rat Arvicanthis rufinus


.................................................................


Desmomys
Two species, neither of which are represented in the Zoochat galleries.

Harrington's Rat Desmomys harringtoni
Yalden's Rat Desmomys yaldeni


.................................................................


Lemniscomys
About eleven species, two of which are represented in the Zoochat galleries.


Barbary Striped Grass Mouse Lemniscomys barbarus
Kingdon's Mammals of Africa considers the species to be monotypic. The species L. zebra was formerly treated as a subspecies of L. barbarus.

Photo by @Kakapo at Antwerp Zoo (Belgium)


Barbary striped grass mouse (Lemniscomys barbarus) - ZooChat


Typical Striped Grass Mouse Lemniscomys striatus
A large number of subspecies have been described. Generally six are recognised now (ardens, dieterleni, luluae, massaicus, striatus, wroughtoni), although Kingdon's Mammals of Africa considers three of these to be synonyms (amongst several others) and recognises a different five subspecies instead (dieterleni, lynsei, massaicus, striatus, venustus), with the added comment that lynsei and massaicus may be full species (with dieterleni as a subspecies of massaicus).

Photo by @Giant Eland at Tierpark Schonebeck (Germany)


Typical striped grass mouse (Lemniscomys striatus) - ZooChat


Photo by @Maguari at Plzen Zoo (Czech Republic) (subspecies ardens)


Mount Kenya Grass Mouse at Pilsen, 31/08/12 - ZooChat


The remaining species in the genus Lemniscomys are below:

Bellier's Striped Grass Mouse Lemniscomys bellieri
Griselda's Striped Grass Mouse Lemniscomys griselda
Hoogstraal's Striped Grass Mouse Lemniscomys hoogstraali
Senegal One-striped Grass Mouse Lemniscomys linulus
Buffoon Striped Grass Mouse Lemniscomys macculus
Mittendorf's Striped Grass Mouse Lemniscomys mittendorfi
Single-striped Grass Mouse Lemniscomys rosalia
Rosevear's Striped Grass Mouse Lemniscomys roseveari
Heuglin's Striped Grass Mouse Lemniscomys zebra


.................................................................


Mylomys
Two species, neither of which are represented in the Zoochat galleries.

African Groove-toothed Rat Mylomys dybowskii
Ethiopian Groove-toothed Rat Mylomys rex


.................................................................


Pelomys
Five species, none of which are represented in the Zoochat galleries.

Bell's Groove-toothed Swamp Rat Pelomys campanae
Creek Groove-toothed Swamp Rat Pelomys fallax
Hopkins' Groove-toothed Swamp Rat Pelomys hopkinsi
Issel's Groove-toothed Swamp Rat Pelomys isseli
Least Groove-toothed Swamp Rat Pelomys minor


.................................................................


Rhabdomys
One to five species, two of which are represented in the Zoochat galleries.

Traditionally the genus has included just one species, the Four-striped Grass Mouse Rhabdomys pumilio, but genetics suggest there may be as many as five species, which differ also in habitat and social structures. The original single species was split in two in 2003 (into the Xeric Four-striped Grass Mouse Rhabdomys pumilio and the Mesic Four-striped Grass Mouse Rhabdomys dilectus). In 2012 R. pumilio was split into three species (R. bechuanae, R. intermedius, R. pumilio). And finally the southern and northern populations of R. dilectus were split as full species (R. chakae and R. dilectus respectively) based on sympatry in part of their range.


Western Four-striped Grass Mouse Rhabdomys bechuanae
Southern Mesic Four-striped Grass Mouse Rhabdomys chakae
Northern Mesic Four-striped Grass Mouse Rhabdomys dilectus
Highland Four-striped Grass Mouse Rhabdomys intermedius
Southwest Four-striped Grass Mouse Rhabdomys pumilio


Mesic Four-striped Grass Mouse Rhabdomys dilectus
If treated as one species, then there are two subspecies (southern chakae and northern dilectus). If they are split as full species then both are monotypic.

Note that with regards to photos in the Zoochat galleries I couldn't say whether the captive animals in Europe are actually the northern R. dilectus or if they would be the southern R. chakae.


Photo by @Hix in the wild, Zimbabwe (this is the northern R. dilectus)


Four-striped Mouse - ZooChat


Southwest (Xeric) Four-striped Grass Mouse Rhabdomys pumilio
As many as twenty subspecies have been described. The split of pumilio into three full species has made things even more complicated.

Photo by @Kudu21 in the wild, South Africa (true Rhabdomys pumilio)


Four-striped Grass Mouse - ZooChat

 

Colomys division
Three genera (Colomys, Nilopegamys, Zelotomys), containing four to seven species.

None of the species are represented in the Zoochat galleries.


.................................................................


Colomys
One to four species

African Water Rat Colomys goslingi


In 2020 this species was split into four species: C. eisentrauti, C. goslingi, C. lumumbai, and C. wologozi.


.................................................................


Nilopegamys
One species

Ethiopian Water Mouse Nilopegamys plumbeus


.................................................................


Zelotomys
Two species

Hildegarde's Broad-headed Mouse Zelotomys hildegardeae
Woosnam's Broad-headed Mouse Zelotomys woosnami

 

Dasymys division
One genus (Dasymys), containing about fifteen species.

None of the species are represented in the Zoochat galleries.


Dasymys
Probably about fifteen species. The taxonomy is unclear and little-studied. Formerly many species were lumped under the name D. incomtus.

Glover Allen's Marsh Rat Dasymys alleni
Crawford-Cabral's Marsh Rat Dasymys cabrali
Cape Marsh Rat Dasymys capensis
Fox's Marsh Rat Dasymys foxi
Grey-fronted Marsh Rat Dasymys griseifrons
African Marsh Rat Dasymys incomtus (this species was formerly treated as an Africa-wide species, hence the unhelpful common name it has; now it is considered to be endemic to eastern South Africa and Swaziland)
Long-haired Marsh Rat Dasymys longipilosus
Montane Marsh Rat Dasymys montanus
Angolan Marsh Rat Dasymys nudipes
Roberts' Marsh Rat Dasymys robertsii
West African Marsh Rat Dasymys rufulus
Rwandan Marsh Rat Dasymys rwandae
Shortridge's Marsh Rat Dasymys shortridgei
Tanzanian Marsh Rat Dasymys sua

 

Hybomys division
Three genera (Dephomys, Hybomys, Stochomys), containing nine species.

None of the species are represented in the Zoochat galleries.


.................................................................


Dephomys
Two species

Defua Rat Dephomys defua
Ivory Coast Rat Dephomys eburneae


.................................................................


Hybomys
Six species

Eisentraut's Striped Mouse Hybomys badius
Father Basilio's Striped Mouse Hybomys basilii
Moon Striped Mouse Hybomys lunaris
Miller's Striped Mouse Hybomys planifrons
Temminck's Striped Mouse Hybomys trivirgatus
Peters' Striped Mouse Hybomys univittatus


.................................................................


Stochomys
One species

Target Rat Stochomys longicaudatus

 

Malacomys division
One genus (Malacomys), containing three species.


Malacomys
Three species, one of which is represented in the Zoochat galleries.


Edward's Swamp Rat Malacomys edwardsi
Monotypic

Photo by @Maguari at Marwell Zoo (UK)


Edwards' Swamp Mouse at Marwell, ca. 2000 - ZooChat


The other two species in the genus are below:

Cansdale's Swamp Rat Malacomys cansdalei
Big-eared Swamp Rat Malacomys longipes

 

Oenomys division
Five extant genera (Grammomys, Lamottemys, Oenomys, Thallomys,Thamnomys), containing about 23 species.

There are also two recently-extinct genera from the Canary Islands. Canariomys has two species: the Tenerife Giant Rat Canariomys bravoi which is thought to have become extinct around 2000 to 3000 years ago; and the Gran Canaria Giant Rat Canariomys tamarani which is thought to have become extinct less than 2000 years ago. The second genus is Malpaisomys with a single known species, the Lava Mouse Malpaisomys insularis of Fuerteventura and Lanzarote, which became extinct around 1000 years ago. All three extinctions occurred after the arrival of humans to the islands.


Three species are represented in the Zoochat galleries, from the genera Grammomys and Thallomys.


.................................................................


Grammomys
About thirteen species, one of which is represented in the Zoochat galleries.


Grey-headed Thicket Rat Grammomys caniceps
Monotypic

Photo by @Giant Eland at Plzen Zoo (Czech Republic)


gray-headed thicket rat (Grammomys caniceps) 2010 - ZooChat


The remaining species in the genus Grammomys are below:

Arid Thicket Rat Grammomys aridulus
Short-nosed Thicket Rat Grammomys brevirostris
Bunting's Thicket Rat Grammomys buntingi
Mozambique Thicket Rat Grammomys cometes
Woodland Thicket Rat Grammomys dolichurus
Forest Thicket Rat Grammomys dryas
Giant Thicket Rat Grammomys gigas
Ruwenzori Thicket Rat Grammomys ibeanus
Eastern Rainforest Thicket Rat Grammomys kuru
Macmillan's Thicket Rat Grammomys macmillani
Ethiopian Thicket Rat Grammomys minnae
Shining Thicket Rat Grammomys poensis


.................................................................


Lamottemys
One species, not represented in the Zoochat galleries.

Mount Oku Rat Lamottemys okuensis


.................................................................


Oenomys
Two species, neither of which are represented in the Zoochat galleries. This may be a species complex.

Common Rufous-nosed Rat Oenomys hypoxanthus
Ghana Rufous-nosed Rat Oenomys ornatus


.................................................................


Thallomys
Four species, of which two (maybe three) are represented in the Zoochat galleries.


The four species are:

Loring's Rat Thallomys loringi
Black-tailed Tree Rat Thallomys nigricauda
Acacia Rat Thallomys paedulcus
Shortridge's Rat Thallomys shortridgei


Loring's Rat Thallomys loringi / Acacia Rat Thallomys paedulcus

The species present in European zoos has always been labelled as the Acacia Rat Thallomys paedulcus, but it may in fact be Loring's Rat Thallomys loringi. There is a lot of confusion around the members of this genus - for example, in Rodents of Sub-Saharan Africa by Monadjem et al it says that "it is currently not possible to provide a key to the species of Thallomys because the species have been poorly diagnosed". In Kingdon's Mammals of Africa both T. loringi and T. paedulcus are characterised by a "conspicuous" black mask, but in Rodents of Sub-Saharan Africa it is stated that T. loringi has "an obvious black facial mask" whereas in T. paedulcus "the face mask is present but indistinct". Kingdon has the visual distinctions between the two species being that the dorsal pelage is brown with a blackish wash in T. loringi and yellowish-grey to pale brown in T. paedulcus.


Photo by @Newzooboy at Prague Zoo (Czech Republic)


Acacia Rat - Prague Zoo, July 2013 - ZooChat


Photo by @Giant Eland at Plzen Zoo (Czech Republic)


Loring's rat (Thallomys loringi) - ZooChat


Black-tailed Tree Rat Thallomys nigricauda
Treated as monotypic in Kingdon's Mammals of Africa, although a former 13 subspecies are noted.


Both photos below by @Peter at Lodz Zoo (Poland)


Black-tailed Tree Rat - ZooChat


Black-tailed Tree Rat - ZooChat


.................................................................


Thamnomys
Three species, none of which are represented in the Zoochat galleries.

Kemp's Thicket Rat Thamnomys kempi
Hatt's Thicket Rat Thamnomys major
Charming Thicket Rat Thamnomys venustus

 

Otomys division
Three genera (Myotomys, Otomys, Parotomys), containing about 35 species.

This group of genera was formerly considered to be a distinct subfamily of Muridae, the Otomyinae, but has since been included within the Murinae.


One of the species is represented in the Zoochat galleries, of the genus Myotomys.


.................................................................


Myotomys
Two species, formerly (sometimes still) included in the genus Otomys.


Bush Vlei Rat or Bush Karoo Rat Myotomys unisulcatus
Several subspecies have been named (albaniensis, bergensis, broomi, grantii) but the lack of genetic diversity within them suggests they are not valid, so the species is generally now treated as being monotypic

Photo by @Giant Eland in the wild, South Africa


Karoo bush rat (Myotomys unisulcatus) - ZooChat


The second species in the genus is the Sloggett's Vlei Rat or Rock Karoo Rat Myotomys sloggetti


.................................................................


Otomys
Rodents of Sub-Saharan Africa by Monadjem et al (2015) recognise 31 species of Otomys, including two undescribed species (O. cf lacustris and O. cf sungae), but also including the two species of Myotomys. Kingdon's Mammals of Africa (2013) recognises 15 species (likewise including the two species of Myotomys). The list below is a composite; various of them may be treated as subspecies rather than full species.

Angolan Vlei Rat Otomys anchietae
Angoni Vlei Rat Otomys angoniensis
Golden Vlei Rat Otomys auratus
Barbour's Vlei Rat Otomys barbouri
Burton's Vlei Rat Otomys burtoni
Cheeseman's Vlei Rat Otomys cheesemani
Cuanza Vlei Rat Otomys cuanzensis
Ruwenzori Vlei Rat Otomys dartmouthi
Dent's Vlei Rat Otomys denti
Dollman's Vlei Rat Otomys dollmani
Strong Vlei Rat Otomys fortior
Heller's Vlei Rat Otomys helleri
Southern African Vlei Rat Otomys irroratus
Mount Elgon Vlei Rat Otomys jacksoni
Karoo Vlei Rat Otomys karoensis
Tanzanian Vlei Rat Otomys lacustris
Laminate Vlei Rat Otomys laminatus
Large Vlei Rat Otomys maximus
Western Vlei Rat Otomys occidentalis
Afroalpine Vlei Rat Otomys orestes
Saunder's Vlei Rat Otomys saundersiae
Simien Mountains Vlei Rat Otomys simiensis
Sungae Vlei Rat Otomys sungae
Tropical Vlei Rat Otomys tropicalis
Typical Vlei Rat Otomys typus
Uzungwe Vlei Rat Otomys uzungwensis
Yalden's Vlei Rat Otomys yaldeni
Zink's Vlei Rat Otomys zinki


.................................................................


Parotomys
Two species

Brants' Whistling Rat Parotomys brantsii
Littledale's Whistling Rat Parotomys littledalei

 

Stenocephalemys division
Six genera (Heimyscus, Hylomyscus, Mastomys, Myomyscus, Praomys, Stenocephalemys), containing about fifty species.

One species is represented in the Zoochat galleries, from the genus Mastomys.


.................................................................


Heimyscus
One species, not represented in the Zoochat galleries.

African Smoky Mouse Heimyscus fumosus


.................................................................


Hylomyscus
Seventeen species, none of which are represented in the Zoochat galleries.

Beaded Wood Mouse Hylomyscus aeta
Allen's Wood Mouse Hylomyscus alleni
Ansell's Wood Mouse Hylomyscus anselli
Arc Mountain Wood Mouse Hylomyscus arcimontensis
Baer's Wood Mouse Hylomyscus baeri
Angolan Wood Mouse Hylomyscus carillus
Montane Wood Mouse Hylomyscus denniae
Small-footed Wood Mouse Hylomyscus endorobae
Large or Mount Oku Wood Mouse Hylomyscus grandis
Heinrich's Wood Mouse Hylomyscus heinrichorum
Kerbis Peterhans' Wood Mouse Hylomyscus kerbispeterhansi
Little Wood Mouse Hylomyscus parvus
Flat-nosed Wood Mouse Hylomyscus simus
Pamf's Wood Mouse Hylomyscus pamfi
Stella Wood Mouse Hylomyscus stella
Volcano Wood Mouse Hylomyscus vulcanorum
Walter Verheyen's Wood Mouse Hylomyscus walterverheyeni


.................................................................


Mastomys
Eight species, one of which is represented in the Zoochat galleries.


Natal Multimammate Mouse Mastomys natalensis
Kingdon's Mammals of Africa lists almost thirty synonyms but also considers there to be no subspecies. The species is found throughout most of Africa and several of the other Mastomys species currently recognised were formerly lumped in with M. natalensis.

Photo by @Giant Eland at Wildlife World Zoo and Aquarium (USA) (albinistic mutation)


Natal multimammate mouse (Mastomys natalensis) 2010 - ZooChat


The remaining species in the genus Mastomys are below:

Awash Multimammate Mouse Mastomys awashensis
Southern Multimammate Mouse Mastomys coucha
Guinea Multimammate Mouse Mastomys erythroleucus
Hubert's Multimammate Mouse Mastomys huberti
Verheyen's Multimammate Mouse Mastomys kollmannspergeri
Dwarf Multimammate Mouse Mastomys pernanus
Shortridge's Multimammate Mouse Mastomys shortridgei


.................................................................


Myomyscus
Four species, none of which are represented in the Zoochat galleries.

Angolan Multimammate Mouse Myomyscus angolensis
Brockman's Rock Mouse Myomyscus brockmani
Verreaux's Mouse Myomyscus verreauxii
Yemeni Mouse Myomyscus yemeni


.................................................................


Praomys
About sixteen or seventeen species, none of which are represented in the Zoochat galleries.

Coetzee's Soft-furred Mouse Praomys coetzeei
Dalton's Mouse Praomys daltoni
De Graaff's Soft-furred Mouse Praomys degraaffi
Delectable Soft-furred Mouse Praomys delectorum
Deroo's Mouse Praomys derooi (treated as a synonym of P. daltoni in Rodents of Sub-Saharan Africa)
Hartwig's Soft-furred Mouse Praomys hartwigi
Jackson's Soft-furred Mouse Praomys jacksoni
Lukolela Swamp Rat Praomys lukolelae
Least Soft-furred Mouse Praomys minor
Misonne's Soft-furred Mouse Praomys misonnei
Cameroon Soft-furred Mouse Praomys morio
Muton's Soft-furred Mouse Praomys mutoni
Gotel Mountain Soft-furred Mouse Praomys obscurus
Peter's Soft-furred Mouse Praomys petteri
Forest Soft-furred Mouse Praomys rostratus
Tullberg's Soft-furred Mouse Praomys tullbergi
Verschuren's Swamp Rat Praomys verschureni


.................................................................


Stenocephalemys
Four species, none of which are represented in the Zoochat galleries.

Ethiopian White-footed Mouse Stenocephalemys albipes
Ethiopian Narrow-headed Rat Stenocephalemys albocaudata
Grey-tailed Narrow-headed Rat Stenocephalemys griseicauda
Rupp's Mouse Stenocephalemys ruppi

 

The second geographical group of genera are the Eurasian divisions which evolved in temperate Asia and spread outwards. The Apodemus division is found across the entire Palaearctic from Europe to Japan. The Micromys division is largely found in tropical southeast Asia with some outliers (e.g. Micromys in Europe). The Mus division is the most widespread of the three divisions, being found throughout Europe and Asia with a number of species also native to Africa.


Apodemus division - two genera (Apodemus, Tokudaia), containing about 25 species.

Eight species are represented in the Zoochat galleries, from both genera.


Micromys division - six genera (Chiropodomys, Haeromys, Hapalomys, Micromys, Vandeleuria, Vernaya), containing 18 species.

Three species are represented in the Zoochat galleries, from three genera (Chiropodomys, Micromys, Vandeleuria).


Mus division - two genera (Muriculus, Mus), containing about forty species.

Three species are represented in the Zoochat galleries, all from the genus Mus.

 

Apodemus division
Two genera (Apodemus, Tokudaia), containing about 25 species.

There is also an extinct genus, Rhagamys, from the Mediterranean islands of Corsica and Sardinia, containing the single species Rhagamys henseli. It probably became extinct between 1000 and 2000 years ago, after the arrival of humans and the introductions of various foreign mammals.


Eight species are represented in the Zoochat galleries, from both genera.


.................................................................


Apodemus
About 22 species, seven of which are represented in the Zoochat galleries


Striped Field Mouse Apodemus agrarius
The number of subspecies in use by various authors varies from 3 to 25, with little agreement even within specific countries (the species has a huge range from Europe to Korea).

Photo by @ThylacineAlive at Tierpark Schonebeck (Germany)


Striped Field Mouse - ZooChat

Photo by @gulogulogulo in the wild, Germany (subspecies agrarius) (showing the appearance of the dorsal stripe well)


striped field mouse? (wild) 030910 - ZooChat


Alpine Field Mouse Apodemus alpicola
Monotypic. Formerly has been treated as a montane subspecies of A. flavicollis.

Photo by @Giant Eland at Plzen Zoo (Czech Republic)


Alpine field mouse (Apodemus alpicola) - ZooChat


Small Japanese Field Mouse Apodemus argenteus
Possibly six subspecies, although there is disagreement on validity: argenteus, celatus, hokkaidi, sagax, tanei, yakui

Photo by @Giant Eland at Inokashira Park Zoo (Japan)


small Japanese field mouse (Apodemus argenteus) - ZooChat

Photo by @Giant Eland at Tama Zoo (Japan)


small Japanese field mouse (Apodemus argenteus) - ZooChat


Yellow-necked Mouse Apodemus flavicollis
Really confused taxonomy over the distribution of this species, so I haven't made any comment on subspecies. Several species were formerly included within A. flavicollis (e.g. A. alpicola, A. gurkha, A. rusiges, etc).

Photo by @LaughingDove in the wild, Poland


Yellow-necked Mouse - Bialowieza - ZooChat


Large Japanese Field Mouse Apodemus speciosus
Possibly eight subspecies, although there is disagreement on validity: ainu, dorsalis, insperatus, miyakensis, navigator, sadoensis, speciosus, tusimaensis

Photo by @Giant Eland at Inokashira Park Zoo (Japan) (unknown subspecies)


large Japanese field mouse (Apodemus speciosus) - ZooChat


Photo by @Sicarius at Higashiyama Zoo (Japan) (subspecies tusimaensis)


Tsushima field mouse (Apodemus speciosus 'tsusimaensis') - ZooChat


Wood Mouse Apodemus sylvaticus
A huge number of subspecies have been described (the species is found throughout Europe, western Asia, northern Africa, and on a lot of Mediterranean islands), but as usual there is a generous amount of confusion and disagreement on validity of the forms; hence I have declined to sort through them all. Some forms are now recognised as separate species (e.g. A. uralensis).

Photo by @vogelcommando in the wild, Netherlands


Wood mouse - ZooChat


Ural or Pigmy Field Mouse Apodemus uralensis
Confusing taxonomy, as usual for this genus. A. microps was formerly considered to be a separate species (the Pigmy Field Mouse), and A. uralensis to be a subspecies of A. sylvaticus, but microps and uralensis have been shown to be conspecific. See Mammal Species of the World - Browse: uralensis for more information on taxonomy.

Photo by @HOMIN96 at Plzen Zoo (Czech Republic) (subspecies cimrmani)


Cimrman's Ural field mouse (Apodemus uralensis cimrmani) - ZooChat



The remaining species in the genus Apodemus are below (but do not take this list to be solid):

Iran Field Mouse Apodemus avicennicus
Chevrier's Field Mouse Apodemus chevrieri
South China Field Mouse Apodemus draco
Western Broad-toothed Field Mouse Apodemus epimelas
Himalayan Field Mouse Apodemus gurkha
Caucasus Field Mouse Apodemus hyrcanicus
Sichuan Field Mouse Apodemus latronum
Eastern Broad-toothed Field Mouse Apodemus mystacinus
Ward's Field Mouse Apodemus pallipes
Korean Field Mouse Apodemus peninsulae
Black Sea Field Mouse Apodemus ponticus (thought to be conspecific with A. flavicollis)
Kashmir Field Mouse Apodemus rusiges
Taiwan Field Mouse Apodemus semotus
Steppe Field Mouse Apodemus witherbyi


.................................................................


Tokudaia
Three species, but as some species are found on unconnected islands there are likely to be cryptic species within them. Until the early 2000s all species were considered conspecific. One species is represented in the Zoochat galleries.

Muennink's Spiny Rat Tokudaia muenninki
Amami Spiny Rat Tokudaia osimensis
Tokunoshima Spiny Rat Tokudaia tokunoshimensis


Amami Spiny Rat Tokudaia osimensis
Monotypic

Both photos below by @Veno at Saitama Childrens Zoo (Japan)


Amami spiny rat (Tokudaia osimensis) - ZooChat


Amami spiny rat (Tokudaia osimensis) - ZooChat

 

Micromys division
Six genera (Chiropodomys, Haeromys, Hapalomys, Micromys, Vandeleuria, Vernaya), containing 18 species.

Three species are represented in the Zoochat galleries, from three genera (Chiropodomys, Micromys, Vandeleuria).


.................................................................


Chiropodomys
Six species, one of which is represented in the Zoochat galleries.


Large Pencil-tailed Tree Mouse Chiropodomys major
Monotypic

Photo by @LaughingDove in the wild, Sabah (Malaysian Borneo)


Large Pencil-tailed Tree Mouse - Sepilok - ZooChat


The remaining species in the genus Chiropodomys are below:

Palawan Pencil-tailed Tree Mouse Chiropodomys calamianensis
Indomalayan Pencil-tailed Tree Mouse Chiropodomys gliroides
Koopman's Pencil-tailed Tree Mouse Chiropodomys karlkoopmani
Grey-bellied Pencil-tailed Tree Mouse Chiropodomys muroides
Small Pencil-tailed Tree Mouse Chiropodomys pusillus


.................................................................


Haeromys
Three species, none of which are represented in the Zoochat galleries.

Common Ranee Mouse Haeromys margarettae
Minahassa Ranee Mouse Haeromys minahassae
Lesser Ranee Mouse Haeromys pusillus


.................................................................


Hapalomys
Three species, none of which are represented in the Zoochat galleries.

Delacour's Marmoset Rat Hapalomys delacouri
Common Marmoset Rat Hapalomys longicaudatus
Vietnamese Marmoset Rat Hapalomys suntsovi


.................................................................


Micromys
Two species, one of which is represented in the Zoochat galleries.


Eurasian Harvest Mouse Micromys minutus
Dozens of subspecies have been described throughout the species' range (found over most of Europe and Asia). Sixteen have been described from Europe alone. Many of these are synonyms or invalid, and some have been transferred to the split species Micromys erythrotis. Even so, I have not tried to sort through them all to try and create a list.

Photo by @ro6ca66 at the British Wildlife Centre (UK) (British subspecies soricinus)


Eurasian harvest mouse : British Wildlife Centre : 05 Oct 2018 - ZooChat

Photo by @gentle lemur at Slimbridge WWT (UK) (British subspecies soricinus, showing the prehensile tail)


Harvest mouse gymnastics - ZooChat


The second species in the genus, not depicted here, is the Vietnamese Harvest Mouse Micromys erythrotis which was formerly included within M. minutus.


.................................................................


Vandeleuria
Three species, one of which is represented in the Zoochat galleries.


Asiatic Long-tailed Climbing Mouse Vandeleuria oleracea
At least six subspecies have been described (dumeticola, modesta, oleracea, rubida, scandens, spadicea) but most or all are now treated as synonyms despite the species having a very large range across south and southeast Asia. It is thought likely that this is actually a species complex.


Photo by @baboon in the wild, Sri Lanka (subspecies oleracea)


Asiatic long-tailed climbing mouse - ZooChat


The other two species in the genus are below:

Nilgiri Long-tailed Climbing Mouse Vandeleuria nilagirica
Nolthenius' Long-tailed Climbing Mouse Vandeleuria nolthenii


.................................................................


Vernaya
One species, not represented in the Zoochat galleries.

Red Climbing Mouse Vernaya fulva

 

Mus division
Two genera (Muriculus, Mus), containing about forty species.

Three species are represented in the Zoochat galleries, all from the genus Mus.


.................................................................


Muriculus
One species, not represented in the Zoochat galleries.


Ethiopian Striped Mouse Muriculus imberbis


.................................................................


Mus
About forty species, three of which are represented in the Zoochat galleries.


House Mouse Mus musculus
Generally five subspecies are recognised (with many more considered to be synonyms or invalid): bactrianus, castaneus, domesticus, gentilulus, musculus. Three of these subspecies are often split as full species (Mus castaneus in south and southeast Asia; Mus domesticus in western Europe and southwest Asia; and Mus musculus in eastern Europe and northern Asia). The species has been widely spread around the world by people, and it is likely that most introduced populations in, e.g. the Americas and Oceania, are hybridised (although they are generally treated as being domesticus).

Photo by @Giant Eland in the wild, Germany


house mouse (Mus musculus)? - ZooChat


Matthey's Mouse Mus mattheyi
Monotypic

Photo by @HOMIN96 at Plzen Zoo (Czech Republic)


Matthey's Mouse (Mus mattheyi) - ZooChat


African Pigmy Mouse Mus minutoides
Three subspecies (marica, minutoides, umbratus) are given in Kingdon's Mammals of Africa, although they note that the taxonomy is uncertain. It may be a species complex. Various other species have already been split off from Mus minutoides, including M. indutus, M. musculoides and M. orangiae.

Photo by @jayjds2 at the Bronx Zoo (USA)


African pygmy mouse - ZooChat

Photo by @vogelcommando at Prague Zoo (Czech Republic) (giving a good impression of the tiny size of this species)


African pygmy mouse - ZooChat


The remaining species in the genus Mus are below:

Baoule's Mouse Mus baoulei
Little Indian Field Mouse Mus booduga
Toad Mouse Mus bufo
Callewaert's Mouse Mus callewaerti
Ryukyu Mouse Mus caroli
Fawn-colored Mouse Mus cervicolor
Cook's Mouse Mus cookii
Sumatran Shrew-Mouse Mus crociduroides
Cypriot Mouse Mus cypriacus
Servant Mouse Mus famulus
Sri Lankan Spiny Mouse Mus fernandoni
Sheath-tailed Mouse Mus fragilicauda
Gounda Mouse Mus goundae
Hausa Mouse Mus haussa
Desert Pigmy Mouse Mus indutus
Myanmar Field Mouse Mus lepidoides
Macedonian Mouse Mus macedonicus
Mahomet Mouse Mus mahomet
Mayor's Mouse Mus mayori
Temminck's Mouse Mus musculoides
Neave's Mouse Mus neavei
Myanmar Mouse Mus nitidulus
Free State Pigmy Mouse Mus orangiae
Oubangui Mouse Mus oubanguii
Gairdner's Shrew-Mouse Mus pahari
Phillips' Mouse Mus phillipsi
Flat-haired Mouse Mus platythrix
Rock-loving Mouse Mus saxicola
Peters' Mouse Mus setulosus
Setzer's Pigmy Mouse Mus setzeri
Shortridge's Mouse Mus shortridgei
Thomas' Pigmy Mouse Mus sorella
Steppe Mouse Mus spicilegus
Algerian Mouse Mus spretus
Delicate Mouse Mus tenellus
Earth-colored Mouse Mus terricolor
Grey-bellied Pigmy Mouse Mus triton
Volcano Mouse Mus vulcani

 

The third geographical group of genera are the south and southeast Asian divisions of mainland lineages (i.e. not including the radiations in the archipelago of the Philippines, or the evolutionary melting pot of Sulawesi). Some of the genera here are found in the Philippines and the IndoMalayan archipelago (and even further, into Australia), but they derive from the mainland lineages (especially the wide-ranging Rattus division) and are evolutionarily separate from the insular lineages.


Dacnomys division - eight genera (Anonymomys, Chiromyscus, Dacnomys, Leopoldamys, Niviventer, Saxatilomys, Srilankamys, Tonkinomys), containing about thirty species.

Only one species is represented in the Zoochat galleries, from the genus Niviventer.


Golunda division - one genus (Golunda), containing one species.

The single species is not represented in the Zoochat galleries.


Hadromys division - one genus (Hadromys), containing two species.

Neither of the species are represented in the Zoochat galleries.


Maxomys division - one genus (Maxomys), containing about eighteen species.

None of the species are represented in the Zoochat galleries.


Millardia division - four genera (Cremnomys, Diomys, Madromys, Millardia), containing eight species.

None of the species are represented in the Zoochat galleries.


Pithecheir division - six genera (Eropeplus, Lemnomys, Lenothrix, Margaretamys, Pithecheir, Pithecheirops), containing ten species.

None of the species are represented in the Zoochat galleries.


Rattus division - twenty-one genera (Abditomys, Bandicota, Berylmys, Bullimus, Bunomys, Diplothrix, Halmaheramys, Kadarsanomys, Komodomys, Limnomys, Nesokia, Nesoromys, Palawanomys, Papagomys, Paruromys, Paulamys, Rattus, Sundamys, Taeromys, Tarsomys, Tryphomys), containing about 110 species.

Only eight species are represented in the Zoochat galleries, all from the genus Rattus.

 

Dacnomys division
Eight genera (Anonymomys, Chiromyscus, Dacnomys, Leopoldamys, Niviventer, Saxatilomys, Srilankamys, Tonkinomys), containing about thirty species.

Only one species is represented in the Zoochat galleries, from the genus Niviventer.


.................................................................


Anonymomys
One species, not represented in the Zoochat galleries.


Mindoro Climbing Rat Anonymomys mindorensis


.................................................................


Chiromyscus
One species, not represented in the Zoochat galleries.


Fea's Tree Rat Chiromyscus chiropus


.................................................................


Dacnomys
One species, not represented in the Zoochat galleries.


Millard's Rat Dacnomys millardi


.................................................................


Leopoldamys
Six species, none of which are represented in the Zoochat galleries.


Sundaic Mountain Long-tailed Giant Rat Leopoldamys ciliatus
Edwards' Long-tailed Giant Rat Leopoldamys edwardsi
Millet's Long-tailed Giant Rat Leopoldamys milleti
Neill's Long-tailed Giant Rat Leopoldamys neilli
Malaysian Long-tailed Giant Rat Leopoldamys sabanus
Mentawai Long-tailed Giant Rat Leopoldamys siporanus


.................................................................


Niviventer
At least eighteen species, one of which is represented in the Zoochat galleries.

Note that (as with many murid genera) the number of recognised species is probably well below the true number, likely containing multiple cryptic species.


Anderson's White-bellied Rat Niviventer andersoni
Three subspecies: ailaoshanensis, andersoni, pianmaensis

Photo by @baboon in the wild, China (subspecies andersoni)


Anderson's niviventer - ZooChat


Brahma White-bellied Rat Niviventer brahma
Cameron Highlands White-bellied Rat Niviventer cameroni
Chinese White-bellied Rat Niviventer confucianus
Coxing's White-bellied Rat Niviventer coninga
Dark-tailed Tree Rat Niviventer cremoriventer
Oldfield White-bellied Rat Niviventer culturatus
Smoke-bellied Rat Niviventer eha
Large White-bellied Rat Niviventer excelsior
Montane Sumatran White-bellied Rat Niviventer fraternus
Chestnut White-bellied Rat Niviventer fulvescens
Korat Limestone Rat Niviventer hinpoon
Lang Bian White-bellied Rat Niviventer langbianis
Narrow-tailed White-bellied Rat Niviventer lepturus
Hainan White-bellied Rat Niviventer lotipes
Common White-bellied Rat Niviventer niviventer
Long-tailed Mountain Rat Niviventer rapit
Tenasserim White-bellied Rat Niviventer tenaster


.................................................................


Saxatilomys
One species, not represented in the Zoochat galleries.


Paulina’s Limestone Rat Saxatilomys paulinae


.................................................................


Srilankamys
One species, not represented in the Zoochat galleries.


Ohiya Rat Srilankamys ohiensis


.................................................................


Tonkinomys
One species, not represented in the Zoochat galleries.


Daovantien’s Limestone Rat Tonkinomys daovantieni

 

Golunda division
One genus (Golunda), containing one species.


The single species is not represented in the Zoochat galleries.


Indian Bush Rat Golunda ellioti

 

Hadromys division
One genus (Hadromys), containing two species.


Neither of the species are represented in the Zoochat galleries.


Manipur Bush Rat Hadromys humei

Yunnan Bush Rat Hadromys yunnanensis