EVOLUTION IN NEW-GUINEAN MURIDAE (RODENTIA) ASSESSED BY MICROCOMPLEMENT FIXATION OF ALBUMIN

The interrelationships of 19 genera and 28 species of New Guinean rode nts representing 80% of the currently recognised New Guinean genera, w ere studied using microcomplement fixation of albumin to measure immun ological distances among genera. The phylogenetic distinctiveness of R attus and the closely related Stenomys from all other genera was confi rmed. The remaining genera fall into three groups: (i) Lorentzimys; (i i) Anisomys, Coccymys, Chiruromys, Hyomys, Macruromys, Mallomys and Po gonomys; and (iii) Crossomys, Hydromys, Leptomys, Mayermys, Melomys, N eohydromys, Parahydromys, Pseudohydromys and Uromys. Solomys, from the Solomon islands, and Leggadina, Mesembriomys and Xeromys, from Austra lia, were shown to belong to this latter group. Groups (i) and (ii) ar e essentially endemic to New Guinea, while the third shares genera and species with Australia.