The brush-furred mice, genus Lophuromys, are a group of rodents found in sub-Saharan Africa. They are members of the subfamily Deomyinae, a group only identifiable through molecular analysis. Lophuromys is also known as the brush-furred rats, harsh-furred rats or coarse-haired mice.

Characteristics The brush-furred mice are so named due to the unique, stiff hairs that make up their pelage. The texture is similar to a soft brush. They are peculiar looking for several reasons. The coat varies depending on species, but ranges from tan to greenish greys and dark brown. Some species have an almost purplish tint to the pelage and others can be speckled. The underside is rusty, orange, brown, or cream-colored. They are chunky mice with relatively short legs.

Most animals have noticeable scars, notched ears, or are missing part of their tails. The skin is delicate and the animals appear to use this as a predator avoidance technique. The tail breaks easily and may be lost so that the animal can escape. Once lost, it does not regenerate. The skin tears easily, particularly in strategic positions such as the scruff of the neck. In fact, if an animal is held by the scruff of the neck, it is capable of struggling its way free by tearing itself loose, leaving behind a patch of skin and fur. It is rare to find specimens in museums without sewn-up tears.

Habitat and diet Brush-furred mice appear to require moist areas and perhaps grasses. They are generally excluded from dry savannahs and forests with dense canopies. They are variable in degree of diurnality versus nocturnality.

They appear to feed more on animal matter than most muroids. The proportion of animal material in the diet ranges from 40 to 100% depending on species. Food consists of ants, other insects and invertebrates, small vertebrates, carrion, and plant matter.

Behaviour Brush-furred mice are solitary and are reported to fight when placed together. This may contribute to the wounds found on individuals. A brush-furred mouse was recorded to have lived for over 3 years in captivity.

Allopatric speciation appears to have played an important role in shaping the evolution of this genus. Research conducted on the group suggests that isolated species exist a relatively short distance away from one another. Gene flow is either absent or greatly restricted among these isolated pockets. This has led to differences detectable by karyotype, allozymes, and DNA sequencing. The number of recognized species in this genus has increased in recent years and is probably still not representative of the true diversity of this group.

Species

21 species were accepted in this genus in 2005. This number has grown to 34. Genus Lophuromys - brush-furred mice Subgenus Kivumys Yellow-bellied brush-furred rat, Lophuromys luteogaster Medium-tailed brush-furred rat, Lophuromys medicaudatus Woosnam's brush-furred rat, Lophuromys woosnami Subgenus Lophuromys Angolan brush-furred mouse, Lophuromys angolensis Ansorge's brush-furred mouse, Lophuromys ansorgei Gray brush-furred rat, Lophuromys aquilus Short-tailed brush-furred rat, Lophuromys brevicaudus Thomas's Ethiopian brush-furred rat, Lophuromys brunneus Mount Chercher brush-furred rat, Lophuromys chercherensis Ethiopian forest brush-furred rat, Lophuromys chrysopus Dieterlen's brush-furred mouse, Lophuromys dieterleni Dudu's brush-furred rat, Lophuromys dudui Eisentraut's brush-furred rat, Lophuromys eisentrauti Yellow-spotted brush-furred rat, Lophuromys flavopunctatus Hutterer's brush-furred mouse, Lophuromys huttereri Kilonzo's brush furred rat, Lophuromys kilonzoi Machangu's brush furred rat, Lophuromys machangui Makundi's brush-furred rat, Lophuromys makundii Black-clawed brush-furred rat, Lophuromys melanonyx North Western Rift brush-furred rat, Lophuromys menageshae Fire-bellied brush-furred rat, Lophuromys nudicaudus Sheko Forest brush-furred rat, Lophuromys pseudosikapusi Rahm's brush-furred rat, Lophuromys rahmi Mount Cameroon brush-furred rat, Lophuromys roseveari Sabuni's brush-furred rat, Lophuromys sabunii Rusty-bellied brush-furred rat, Lophuromys sikapusi Verhagen's brush-furred mouse, Lophuromys verhageni Zena's brush-furred rat, Lophuromys zena Unsorted Lophuromys laticeps Lophuromys margarettae Lophuromys rita Lophuromys simensis Stanley's brush-furred rat, Lophuromys stanleyi

References

Further reading

Kingdon, J. 1997. The Kingdon Field Guide to African Mammals. Academic Press Limited, London. Nowak, Ronald M. 1999. Walker's Mammals of the World, 6th edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, 1936 pp.