Thryonomys arkelli

Antoñanzas, Raquel López, Sen, Sevket & Mein, Pierre, 2004, Systematics and phylogeny of the cane rats (Rodentia: Thryonomyidae), Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 142, pp. 423-444 : 426

THRYONOMYS ARKELLI BATE, 1947

Thryonomys arkelli is a species coined by Bate (1947) for poor material from a Mesolithic site in Khartoum ( Sudan). Monod (1970) discussed the assumed differences between T. arkelli and T. swinderianus according to Bate (1947). He established that these distinctions are of problematical interpretation, difficult to use, of doubtful diagnostic value and even contestable. It is, for example, impossible to assure that the more lengthened muzzle of T. arkelli , in comparison with that of T. swinderianus , is a character that would remain diagnostic if more material were to become available. Despite these inconveniences, Monod (1970: 548) concluded that it is more prudent to consider, at least provisionally, T. arkelli a valid species. We disagree with that conclusion based on pertinent observations because (1) T. swinderianus is a species showing high morphological variability and (2) T. arkelli is recorded so far on the basis of poor material of subadult condition. We judge that the latter species does not deserve recognition as a taxon distinct from the former until further material provides incontrovertible evidence to the contrary.