SYSTEMATICS OF THE SPINY MOUSE (ACOMYS: MUROIDEA): MOLECULAR AND BIOCHEMICAL EVIDENCE

ABSTRACT

On the basis of its dental and cranial morphology, Acomys (spiny mouse) has been considered a member of the Murinae. Recently, the immunological data of Sarich (1985) suggested that Acomys might not be a murine, or even a murid. After this surprising result, different morphological and molecular approaches have addressed the systematic position of Acomys. Most molecular and biochemical studies (immunology, isozyme electrophoresis, kaiyology, DNA/DNA hybridization, Lx amplification in the nuclear genome) indicate, that Acomys cannot be considered a murine. Two other taxa traditionally classified with the Murinae are in the same situation: Uranomys and Lophuromys. A recent morphological reexamination of these three genera also separates them from the murines (Denys et al., 1991).