A Biogeographic Study of Cusimanses (Crossarchus) (Carnivora, Herpestidae) in the Zaire Basin
1994; Wiley; Volume: 21; Issue: 5 Linguagem: Inglês
10.2307/2845652
ISSN1365-2699
AutoresMarc Colyn, Harry van Rompaey,
Tópico(s)Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
ResumoA study of the distributional pattems and cranial variation in different population aggregates of Crossarchus F. Cuvier, 1825 (Carnivora, Herpestidae) from the Zaire Basin shows that: (1) C. ansorgei Thomas, 1910 and C. alexandri Thomas & Wroughton, 1907 are valid species whose respective distributions are sympatric in the whole of the «South Central» faunal region. (2) Among the populations of C. alexandri of both sides of the Zaire River there is marked variation in craniometric characters. Recognition of the subspecies C. alexandri minor Goldman, 1984, described from the eastern region of Zaire solely on the basis of smaller cranial measurements, is not justifiable. The instance of multiple recolonization and the problems created by the geographical distribution of the cusimanses are supplementary indicators that will prove helpful in the study of the evolutionary history of the environment and fauna of Central Africa
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