Hylomyscus simus (G. M. Allen & Coolidge, 1930)

Don E. Wilson, Russell A. Mittermeier & Thomas E. Lacher, Jr, 2017, Muridae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 7 Rodents II, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 536-884 : 803

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.6887260

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6868834

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/1E30E275-34E1-FF50-E154-2D2976C186FF

treatment provided by

Carolina

scientific name

Hylomyscus simus
status

 

582. View Plate 51: Muridae

West African Wood Mouse

Hylomyscus simus View in CoL

French: Hylomysque de Brosset / German: \Westliche Afrikawaldmaus / Spanish: Raton de bosque de Africa occidental

Other common names: Liberian Hylomyscus, Liberian Wood Mouse, West African Hylomyscus

Taxonomy. Hylomyscus alleni simus G. M. Allen & Coolidge, 1930 View in CoL , “Merikay, interior of Liberia.”

Hylomyscus simus previously was included in H. alleni . It was elevated to a distinct species in the H. alleni species group based on molecular and morphometric grounds. Monotypic.

Distribution. SW W Africa from Sierra Leone and Guinea E to Ghana. View Figure

Descriptive notes. Head-body 66-128 mm, tail 52-143 mm, ear 13-18 mm, hindfoot 16-20 mm; weight 12-22 g. Fur of the West African Wood Mouse is chocolate-brown or dark brown above, paler on flanks, and brownish white below, without clear demarcation of ventral and dorsal color. Tail is very long (140-165% of head-body length), pale, and sparsely covered with very short pale hair. Fifth digit on hindfoot is opposable and almost as long as second digit. Females have four pairs of nipples. Incisors slightly proodont.

Habitat. Mainly undisturbed rainforest but also disturbed forests and farms in low densities.

Food and Feeding. West African Wood Mice eat seeds, roots, stems, fruits, and also insects.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. The West African Wood Mouse is arboreal and nocturnal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. West African Wood Mice are agile climbers, aided by longopposable fifth digits and very long tails. Nests are constructed in holes in trees (e.g. bananas and plantains).

Status and Conservation. Not assessed on The IUCN Red Lust.

Bibliography. Adam (1977), Grubb et al. (1998), Happold (2013a), Monadjem et al. (2015), Nicolas, Olayemi et al. (2010), Rosevear (1969).

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Mammalia

Order

Rodentia

Family

Muridae

Genus

Hylomyscus

Loc

Hylomyscus simus

Don E. Wilson, Russell A. Mittermeier & Thomas E. Lacher, Jr 2017
2017
Loc

Hylomyscus alleni simus

G. M. Allen & Coolidge 1930
1930
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