Muridae (Mice and Rats)

      Philippine murids are a remarkably diverse group of animals, ranging from small, ground-living shrew-like animals to large arboreal animals with flowing black hair (some examples are shown here and here).  An astounding 14 new species of Philippine murid rodents have been discovered since the last checklist was published in 1987. The genus Apomys includes the most new species, with two undescribed species from Sibuyan (Goodman & Ingle, 1993), one undescribed species from Negros (Heaney, unpubl.) and one from Camiguin (Heaney & Tabaranza, unpubl. data), as well as the recently described Apomys gracilirostris from Mindoro (Ruedas, 1995). The other additions are an undescribed Archboldomys from northern Luzon (Rickart et al., 1998), an undescribed Bullimus from Camiguin (Heaney & Tabaranza, 1997), Chrotomys gonzalesi from Mt. Isarog, an undescribed Chrotomys from Sibuyan, Crateromys heaneyi from Panay (Gonzales & Kennedy, 1996), undescribed Crunomys (Rickart et al., 1998) and Tarsomys from Mt. Kitanglad (Heaney et al., unpubl. data), Tarsomys echinatus from Mindanao (Musser & Heaney, 1992), and an undescribed Tarsomys from Sibuyan (Goodman & Ingle, 1992). In addition, two undescribed species previously known (Batomys from Dinagat [Musser et al., in press] and Haeromys from Palawan [Heaney et al., 1987]) are currently under study (Musser et al., unpubl. data).
     The systematics and relationships of Philippine murid genera were reviewed by Musser and Heaney (1992). Chromosomal variation in Philippine murids was described by Rickart and Musser (1993). The species formerly referred to as Rattus rattus is now recognized as a species group, and Philippine populations have been placed in the species Rattus tanezumi (Musser and Carleton, 1993). Bullimus rabori and Rattus tyrannus are now considered to be junior synonyms of Bullimus bagobus and Rattus everetti, respectively (Musser and Carleton, 1993; Musser and Heaney, 1992; ). Crunomys rabori is now considered to be a synonym of C. melanius (Musser and Heaney, 1992; Rickart et al., unpubl. data).


Species found in the Philippines: