Hypogeomys antimena A. Grandidier 1869

Wilson, Don E. & Reeder, DeeAnn, 2005, Order Rodentia - Family Nesomyidae, Mammal Species of the World: a Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3 rd Edition), Volume 2, Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, pp. 930-955 : 951

Hypogeomys antimena A. Grandidier 1869

Hypogeomys antimena A. Grandidier 1869 , Rev. Mag. Zool. Paris, ser. 2, 21: 339.

Type Locality: Madagascar, Toliara Prov., between the banks of the Tsiribihina and Andranomena Rivers.

Vernacular Names: Votsovotsa.

Distribution: Narrow coastal zone in deciduous dry forest with sandy soils, WC Madagascar.

Conservation: IUCN – Endangered.

Discussion: Although its present range is greatly restricted, H. antimena was more widespread in SW Madagascar until the late Holocene, 1400 years before present (Goodman and Rakotodravony, 1996). Ecology, breeding biology, and conservation status of extant populations addressed by Cook et al. (1991) and Sommer (1997, 2001). Most closely related to H. australis , known as subfossils from cave deposits in C and extreme S Madagascar, and documented as a valid species by Goodman and Rakotodravony (1996), who discussed its possible survival into the period of the island’s early human colonization.