Cameroon African Climbing Mouse

discussion

Discussion: Although described by Osgood (1936) as a species, oreas was later included in D. mesomelas (Bohmann, 1942; Misonne, 1974; Rosevear, 1969). Study of the holotype supports Osgood’s (1936) view that oreas is related to what he called D. lunaris (= D. nyasae) and is not a geographic outlier of either the montane East African D. insignis or southern African D. mesomelas (see those accounts). Judged from the wide range in molar length that Rosevear (1969: 472) recorded for oreas, his Cameroon sample is either extremely variable, which is unusual in the genus, or consists of two species.

Order Rodentia - Family Nesomyidae

distribution

Distribution: Mt Cameroon, Mts Kupe and Manenguba in the massif about 70 mi (113 km) NE Mt Cameroon (Eisentraut, 1963, 1968; Osgood, 1936; Rosevear, 1969), and possibly in mtns of extreme E Cameroon.

Order Rodentia - Family Nesomyidae

materials_examined

Type Locality: Cameroon, Southwest Prov., southwest side of Mt Cameroon, 9000 ft (2743 m).

Order Rodentia - Family Nesomyidae

discussion

COMMENTS: Although originally described by Osgood (1936) as a distinct species, oreas was later included in D. mesomelas (Bohmann, 1942; Rosevear, 1969; Misonne, 1974). Our study of the holotype supports Osgood's (1936) view that oreas may be related to D. lunaris (= kivu), but is not a geographic sample of D. insignis. Judged from the wide range in length of upper molar row that Rosevear (1969: 472) recorded for oreas, his Cameroon sample is either extremely variable, which is unusual in this group, or consists of two species.

Order Rodentia - Family Muridae