Apomys hylocetes Mearns 1905

Apomys hylocetes Mearns 1905, Proc. U. S. Natl. Mus ., 28: 456.

Type Locality: Philippines, Mindanao Isl, Mt Apo, 6000 ft (1830 m).

Vernacular Names: Mindanao Mossy Forest Apomys.

Synonyms: Apomys petraeus Mearns 1905 .

Distribution: Greater Mindanao Faunal Region. Endemic to Mindanao in primary montane forest between 1900 and 2800 m; probably widespread on high peaks of the island (Heaney et al., 1998.

Conservation: IUCN – Lower Risk (lc).

Discussion: Included within Apomys abrae hylocetes Group by Musser (1982 b), who also explained why petraeus is a synonym. Standard karyotype (2n = 48, FN = 56) of A. hylocetes is strikingly dissimilar to that of sympatric A. insignis (2n = 36, FN = 36), but this phyletic estimate is contradicted by phylogenetic analyses of mtDNA cytochrome b sequences, which indicates they are sister species and most closely related to an undescribed species from the islands of Leyte and Biliran and an undescribed species on Camiguin Isl (Steppan et al., 2003). An hypothesis explaining the evolutionary origins of these four species is presented by Steppan et al. (2003).