Mus (Nannomys) mattheyi F. Petter 1969

Mus (Nannomys) mattheyi F. Petter 1969, Mammalia, 33: 118.

Type Locality: Ghana, Accra.

Vernacular Names: Matthey's Mouse.

Distribution: Recognized only from the type locality.

Conservation: IUCN – Data Deficient.

Discussion: Subgenus Nannomys . This form has been recorded from Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, and Ghana (Duplantier and Granjon, 1992; Grubb et al., 1998; F. Petter, 1969; F. Petter et al., 1971; F. Petter and Matthey, 1975), but after studying large series (in MNHN and USNM) of the M. haussa and M. minutoides complexes from West Africa, we are unable to assign anything to M. mattheyi . The morphological traits used to distinguish M. mattheyi from M. haussa by F. Petter (1969) and F. Petter and Matthey (1975) vary in a continuous fashion from typical M. haussa morphology to that considered diagnostic for M. mattheyi . The status of M. mattheyi needs to be reassessed in a taxonomic revision of the group. A chromosomal complement of 2n = 36, FN = 36 characterizes samples identified as M. matheyi and is considered primitive for African Mus (Jotterand-Bellomo, 1986; F. Petter, 1969).