A new species of murine rodent is described from the Mt. Kitanglad Range of north-central Mindanao Island, Philippines. It is the 2nd known species of Limnomys, a genus endemic to Mindanao. The new species differs from Limnomys sibuanus in having a relatively longer tail, larger hind feet, softer pelage with grayish-white ventral coloration, larger skull with a longer rostrum, larger auditory bullae, larger molars, and other cranial and dental features. The new species apparently is nocturnal, omnivorous, and terrestrial-scansorial in habit. The 2 species of Limnomys have overlapping elevational ranges on Mt. Kitanglad and are known to occur syntopically at 1 locality. All 11 species of murines native to Mindanao occur in the Mt. Kitanglad range, and 2 are local endemics. The local occurrence of congeners in 4 genera suggests a repeated pattern of vicariance speciation and dispersal among highland areas of Mindanao.
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1 November 2003
A NEW SPECIES OF LIMNOMYS (RODENTIA: MURIDAE: MURINAE) FROM MINDANAO ISLAND, PHILIPPINES
Eric A. Rickart,
Lawrence R. Heaney,
Blas R. Tabaranza
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