Abstract:
A multidisciplinary approach combining morphology, classical morphometry
and cytogenetics allowed to establish an updated taxonomic inventory of small
mammals from Kingu Pira in the Selous region (south Tanzania). Among the
229 rodents and 21 shrews that were captured during the fi eldwork in Ngarembe
village in July 2003, 45 specimens were karyotyped. Concerning rodents, this
allowed the description of a new karyotype of Acomys and Grammomys, while
the cytotypes of Paraxerus fl avovittis and Pelomys fallax are here fi gured for the
fi rst time. Taxonomic revisions of the literature allowed to clarify the status of
Lemniscomys rosalia and Aethomys chrysophilus in Tanzania. Using a combination
of morphological and cytogenetical characters, a new species of Grammomys is
described. For shrews, we provide here the fi rst description of C. hirta karyotype.
Comparisons with voucher of genetically typed specimens of diff erent east African
collections confi rmed the important biodiversity of this region for conservation
and the necessity to preserve the coastal forest of south Tanzania.
