Apomys hylocetes Mearns 1905

Wilson, Don E. & Reeder, DeeAnn, 2005, Order Rodentia - Family Muridae, Mammal Species of the World: a Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3 rd Edition), Volume 2, Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, pp. 1189-1531 : 1282

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).