Otomys orestes Thomas, 1900

Taylor, Peter J., Lavrenchenko, Leonid A., Carleton, Michael D., Verheyen, Erik, Bennett, Nigel C., Oosthuizen, Carel J. & Maree, Sarita, 2011, Specific limits and emerging diversity patterns in East African populations of laminate-toothed rats, genus Otomys (Muridae: Murinae: Otomyini): Revision of the Otomys typus complex 3024, Zootaxa 3024 (1), pp. 1-66 : 46

Otomys orestes Thomas, 1900

Otomys irroratus orestes ; Thomas, 1900:175 (type locality— Kenya, Mount Kenya, Teleki Valley, 13,000 ft [3962 m]; holotype —BMNH 1900.2.1.21); Wroughton, 1906:275 (listed as valid subspecies).

Otomys orestes orestes ; Dollman, 1915: (new name combination, elevation to species, de facto arrangement as nominate subspecies); Allen, 1939:346 (listed as valid species and subspecies); Ellerman, 1941:323 (listed as valid species and subspecies); Setzer, 1953:334 (taxonomic description, retained as valid species and subspecies).

Otomys orestes ; Hollister, 1919:147 (faunal report, retained as monotypic species); Musser & Carleton, 2005:1528 (reinstated as species, indication of synonyms); Carleton & Byrne, 2006:497 (taxonomic revision, retained as species).

Otomys typus orestes ; Bohmann, 1952:41 (taxonomic revision, new name combination, retained as valid subspecies).

Otomys typus [ orestes ]; Misonne, 1974:33 (listed in synonymy without indication of rank); Musser & Carleton, 1993:682 (listed in synonymy without indication of rank).

Otomys thomasi malleus ; Dollman, 1915:154 (type locality— British East Africa [ Kenya], Naivasha Province, Lake Olbollossat; holotype —BMNH 12.7.1.431); Allen, 1939:346 (listed as valid subspecies); Ellerman, 1941:323 (listed as valid subspecies).

Otomys typus malleus; Bohmann, 1952:42 (new name combination, retained as valid subspecies).

Otomys typus [malleus]; Misonne, 1974:33 (listed in synonymy without indication of rank); Musser & Carleton, 1993:682 (listed in synonymy without indication of rank).

Otomys orestes [malleus]; Musser & Carleton, 2005:1529 (new name combination, listed in synonymy without indication of rank).

Otomys percivali ; Dollman, 1915:168 (type locality— British East Africa [ Kenya], Naivasha District, 12 mi S Lake Olbollossat, 8700 ft [2652 m]; holotype —BMNH 12.7.1.424); Allen, 1939:346 (listed as valid species); Ellerman, 1941: 322 (listed as valid species).

Otomys typus malleus; Bohmann, 1952:42 (taxonomic revision, new name combination, percivali allocated as full synonym, invalid as subspecies).

Otomys typus [ percivali ]; Musser & Carleton, 1993:682 (listed in synonymy without indication of rank).

Otomys orestes [ percivali ]; Musser & Carleton, 2005:1529 (new name combination, listed in synonymy without indication of rank).

Otomys thomasi squalus ; Dollman, 1915:155 (type locality— British East Africa [ Kenya], Aberdare Range, Mount Kinangop, 12,000 ft [3658 m]; holotype —BMNH 10.5.3.41); Hollister, 1919:147 (faunal report, listed as valid subspecies); Allen, 1939:347 (listed as valid subspecies); Ellerman, 1941:323 (listed as valid subspecies).

Otomys typus squalus; Bohmann, 1952:41 (taxonomic revision, new name combination, retained as valid subspecies).

Otomys typus [squalus]; Misonne, 1974:33 (listed in synonymy without indication of rank); Musser & Carleton, 1993:682 (listed in synonymy without indication of rank).

Otomys orestes [squalus]; Musser & Carleton, 2005:1529 (new name combination, listed in synonymy without indication of rank).

Distribution. Discontinuous in alpine settings, ca. 2700–4200 m, on Mount Kenya and the Aberdare Mountains, central Kenya.

Specimens examined. KENYA: Aberdare Mountains , summit , 11,000 ft ( USNM 184033–184035 ) , 12,500 ft (3810 m) ( AMNH 80995 ) ; Aberdare Mountains , moorland ( RMCA a1.008-M-1123); Aberdares, Mount Kinangop , 12,000 ft (3658 m) ( BMNH 10.5.3.41); Aberdare National Park , Fishing Lodge, 8,760, 9,000, and 9,500 ft (2670, 2743, and 2896 m) ( USNM 589995–589997 ) ; Naivasha District , Lake Ol Bolossot ( BMNH 12.7.1.431); Naivasha District, 12 mi S Lake Ol Bolossot , 8,700 ft (2652 m) ( BMNH 12.7.1.424); Mount Kenya , Teleki Valley , 13,000 ft (3962 m) ( BMNH 1900.2.1.21); Mount Kenya , west side , 10,700 ft (3261 m) ( FMNH 43819 , 43444 ; USNM 164308 , 164346 , 164357 , 164358 ) , 13,500 ft (4115 m) ( USNM 164293–164295 , 164297 , 164329 , 164332– 164334 ) , 13,700 ft (4157 m) ( FMNH 43445 , 43446 ; USNM 164300–164305 , 164344 , 164345 ) , 14,600 ft (4450 m) ( AMNH 80993 ) , 15,000 ft (4572 m) ( AMNH 82605–82607 ) .