Arvicanthis Explained

Arvicanthis is a genus of rodent from Africa. They are commonly referred to as unstriped grass mice, unstriped grass rats, and kusu rats.

Species

Genus Arvicanthis - unstriped grass mice

• Abyssinian grass rat, Arvicanthis abyssinicus Rüppell, 1842
• Sudanian grass rat, Arvicanthis ansorgei Thomas, 1910
• Blick's grass rat, Arvicanthis blicki Frick, 1914
• Nairobi grass rat, Arvicanthis nairobae J. A. Allen, 1909
• Neumann's grass rat, Arvicanthis neumanni Matschie, 1894
• African grass rat, Arvicanthis niloticus É. Geoffroy, 1803
• Guinean grass rat, Arvicanthis rufinus Temminck, 1853

Genetic evidence indicates that the extinct Canariomys is also nested within this genus.^[1]

References

• Musser, G. G. and M. D. Carleton. 2005. Superfamily Muroidea. pp. 894–1531 in Mammal Species of the World a Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. D. E. Wilson and D. M. Reeder eds. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore.

Notes and References

1. Renom. Pere. de-Dios. Toni. Civit. Sergi. Llovera. Laia. Sánchez-Gracia. Alejandro. Lizano. Esther. Rando. Juan Carlos. Marquès-Bonet. Tomàs. Kergoat. Gael J.. Casanovas-Vilar. Isaac. Lalueza-Fox. Carles. Genetic data from the extinct giant rat from Tenerife (Canary Islands) points to a recent divergence from mainland relatives. Biology Letters. 2021. 17. 12. 20210533. 10.1098/rsbl.2021.0533. 8692034. 34932923.