Wild Zebra Mice

Taxonomy
Marks of identification
Life in the Wild

ZEBRA MOUSE Lemniscomys

Other names: Panya (Kisvahili), Mende (Luganda), Olurende (Lugisu), Livende (Luhya), Nyarubere (Lutoro, Lubwizi), Olutera (Lukonjo), Kadzora (Kipokomo), Kimuarees (Sebei), Eze (Kuamba), Rat rayé (Frensh), Strimmig / randfläckad gräsmus (Swedish), Seeprahiiri (Finnish).

Taxonomy

CLASS: Mammalia (mammals)
ORDER: Rodentia (rodents)
SUB-ORDER: Myomorpha
FAMILY: Muridae (rat-like rodents)
SUB-FAMILY: Murinae (proper mice and rats)
GENERA: Lemniscomys (zebra mice)
SPECIES: Lemniscomys barbarus, Lemniscomys striatus, Lemniscomys macculus, and Lemniscomys griselda.
SUB-SPECIES: L. barbarus zebra, L. barbarus fasciatus, L. barbarus albolineatus, L. barbarus convicutus, L. barbarus manteufli, L. babrarus spekei, L. striatus massaicus, L. striatus ardens, L. macculus macculus, L. griselda maculosus, L. griselda linulus, L. griselda rosalia, L. griselda dorsalis, L. griselda maculosus mearnsi.

MORE ON SPECIES...

Species are divided by colouring and markings into four groups as follows:

Into plain coloured species are classed Lemniscomys griselda with sub-species L. g. maculosus, L. g. rosalia, L. g. dorsalis, L. g. linulus, L. g. mearnsi.

Into larger spotted species belong Lemniscomys striatus with sub-species L. s. massaicus, L. s ardens.

Smaller spotted species consist of Lemniscomys macculus with sub-species L. m. macculus.

Small striped species are Lemniscomys barbarus with sub-species, which are L. b. zebra, L. b. fasciatus, L. b. albolineatus, L. b. convictus, L. b. manteufli, and L. b. spekei.

Text by: Lotta Ahlfors & Kaisa Kattilakoski with help from Petri Airasvirta.

On to next part - Marks of Identification.