Musser, Guy G., and Michael D. Carleton / Wilson, Don E., and DeeAnn M. Reeder, eds.
Publication Date (Listed/Actual):
2005-10-01 / 2005-10-01
Article/Chapter Title:
Superfamily Muroidea
Journal/Book Name, Vol. No.:
Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, 3rd ed., vol. 2
Page(s):
894-1531
Publisher:
Johns Hopkins University Press
Publication Place:
Baltimore, Maryland, USA
ISBN/ISSN:
0-8018-8221-4/
Notes:
Reference for:
Nilopegamys plumbeus
Nilopegamys plumbeus: Geographic Information
Geographic Division:
Africa
Jurisdiction/Origin:
Nilopegamys plumbeus: Comments
Comment:
Status: IUCN - Critically Endangered
Comment:
Comments: Represented only by the type specimen, which is morphologically similar to Colomys. Kerbis Peterhans and Patterson (1995) enumerated the traits they considered to distinguish the two genera and noted that N. plumbeus has the largest cranial capacity and foramen magnum area of any African muroid sampled, close only to Colomys, Malacomys, and Deomys. Amphibious rodents exhibit large brains relative to body size with an enlarged medulla oblongata, which is correlated with an expansive foramen ...