@article{fdi:010044147,
  title = {{A}n update on the taxonomy and geographic distribution of the cryptic species {M}astomys kollmannspergeri ({M}uridae, {M}urinae) using combined cytogenetic and molecular data},
  author = {{D}obigny, {G}authier and {L}ecompte, {E}. and {T}atard, {C}aroline and {G}authier, {P}hilippe and {B}a, {K}. and {D}enys, {C}. and {D}uplantier, {J}ean-{M}arc and {G}ranjon, {L}aurent},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{M}ulti-mammate rats ({M}uridae, {M}urinae, {M}astomys spp.) are {S}ub-{S}aharan pest rodents, the systematics of which has long remained confused due to poor morphologic differentiation. {C}ytotaxonomy and {DNA} sequencing have provided excellent diagnostic markers for species identification, thus improving the assessment of taxonomic diversity within the genus. {I}n {W}est and {C}entral {A}frica, three species have been unambiguously identified and are now well documented: {M}astomys erythroleucus, {M}astomys natalensis and {M}astomys huberti. {H}owever, recent studies suggest the existence of two other taxa on the basis of morphology, {DNA} sequencing ({M}astomys verheyeni, from {N}igeria and {N}orthern {C}ameroon) or karyotypes ({M}astomys cf. kollmannspergeri, from {N}orthern {N}iger and {C}had). {I}n order to clarify the systematic status of the latter taxa, we collected all the available cytotaxonomic as well as cytochrome b sequencing data to which were added results obtained from recently trapped specimens in {N}orthern {C}ameroon. {O}ur combined molecular and cytogenetic analyses unambiguously confirm the presence of another {M}astomys species inhabiting various habitats in {N}iger, {N}igeria, {C}ameroon, {C}had and {S}udan. {T}his taxon is clearly differentiated from {M}. erythroleucus, {M}. huberti and {M}. natalensis. {F}urthermore, the inclusion in our analysis of two {M}. verheyeni paratypes as well as individuals trapped in close vicinity to the type locality of {M}. kollmannspergeri supports the assignation of all specimens to {M}. kollmanspergeri, thus making {M}. verheyeni its junior synonym. {O}ur study once again highlights the reliability of {DNA}- and karyotype-based methods to accurately assess specific diversity in {A}frican rodents, particularly in the {M}astomys genus, which shelters several species of agricultural and epidemiological importance.},
  keywords = {cytotaxonomy ; molecular systematics ; multi-mammate rats ; pest rodents ; {A}frica},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{J}ournal of {Z}oology},
  volume = {276},
  numero = {4},
  pages = {368--374},
  ISSN = {0952-8369},
  year = {2008},
  DOI = {10.1111/j.1469-7998.2008.00500.x},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010044147},
}