A BIOGEOGRAPHIC STUDY OF CUSIMANSES (CROSSARCHUS) (CARNIVORA, HERPESTIDAE) IN THE ZAIRE BASIN

A study of the distributional patterns and cranial variation in differ ent population aggregates of Crossarchus F. Cuvier, 1825 (Carnivora, H erpestidae) from the Zaire Basin shows that: (1) C. ansorgei Thomas, 1 910 and C. alexandri Thomas & Wroughton, 1907 are valid species whose respective distributions are sympatric in the whole of the 'South Cent ral' faunal region. (2) Among the populations of C. Alexandri of both sides of the Zaire River there is marked variation in craniometric cha racters. Recognition of the subspecies C. alexandri minor Goldman, 198 4, described from the eastern region of Zaire solely on the basis of s maller cranial measurements, is not justifiable. The instance of multi ple recolonization and the problems created by the geographical distri bution of the cusimanses are supplementary indicators that will prove helpful in the study of the evolutionary history of the environment an d fauna of Central Africa.