SYSTEMATICS OF THE SPINY MOUSE (ACOMYS, MUROIDEA) - MOLECULAR AND BIOCHEMICAL-EVIDENCE

On the basis of its dental and cranial morphology, Acomys (spiny mouse ) has been considered a member of the Murinae. Recently, the immunolog ical data of Sarich (1985) suggested that Acomys might not be a murine , or even a murid. After this surprising result, different morphologic al and molecular approaches have addressed the systematic position of Acomys. Most molecular and biochemical studies (immunology, isozyme el ectrophoresis, karyology, DNA/DNA hybridization, Lx amplification in t he nuclear genome) indicate, that Acomys cannot be considered a murine . Two other taxa traditionally classified with the Murinae are in the same situation: Uranomys and Lophuromys. A recent morphological reexam ination of these three genera also separates them from the murines (De nys et al., 1991).