SYSTEMATICS OF THE GENUS MASTOMYS (THOMAS, 1915) (RODENTIA, MURIDAE) - A REVIEW

An update of the systematics of the genus Mastomys is presented, based on a bibliographical analysis and recent results obtained in various fields. Seven species are considered, namely M. erythroleucus, M. couc ha, M. shortridgei, M. natalensis, M. huberti, M. pernanus and M. verh eyeni. M. hildebrandtii, listed by some authors, is considered here as species inquirenda, due to insufficient evidence. The main characteri stics of these species are described, with special emphasis on the kar yotype, which appears to be an especially informative, species-specifi c character in the genus. The known distribution of each species is ma pped and the various intrageneric phylogenetic hypotheses are presente d. The difficulties that remain in this group are listed, together wit h some directions in which further research should be carried on.