Dryomys niethammeri Holden 1996

Dryomys niethammeri Holden 1996, Bonn. Zool. Beitr., Vol. 46, 1-4: 116.

Type Locality: Pakistan, Baluchistan Prov., 1 mi. (1.6 km) E of Ziarat .

Vernacular Names: Niethammer's Forest Dormouse.

Distribution: Pakistan, NE Baluchistan; limits unknown.

Conservation: IUCN – Vulnerable.

Discussion: Known only from three specimens, although an additional five specimens may exist in the collections of the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (T. J. Roberts, A. Mian, pers. comm.). Though D. niethammeri is larger than D. laniger, and differs in other proportions, both species have relatively inflated auditory bullae, a character that may be convergent (Holden, 1996 a). Reviewed by Rossolimo et al. (2001). A much needed critical revision of D. nitedula should include phylogenetic comparisons with D. laniger and D. niethammeri to elucidate intrageneric relationships (see Holden, 1996 a).