The

subfamily In biological classification, a subfamily (Latin: ', plural ') is an auxiliary (intermediate) taxonomic rank, next below family but more inclusive than genus. Standard nomenclature rules end subfamily botanical names with "-oideae", and zoologi ...

Deomyinae consists of four genera of

mouse A mouse ( : mice) is a small rodent. Characteristically, mice are known to have a pointed snout, small rounded ears, a body-length scaly tail, and a high breeding rate. The best known mouse species is the common house mouse (''Mus musculus' ...

-like

rodent Rodents (from Latin , 'to gnaw') are mammals of the order Rodentia (), which are characterized by a single pair of continuously growing incisors in each of the upper and lower jaws. About 40% of all mammal species are rodents. They are na ...

s that were placed in the subfamilies Murinae and Dendromurinae until very recently. They are sometimes called the Acomyinae, particularly in references that antedate the discovery that the link rat, ''

Deomys ferugineus The link rat (''Deomys ferrugineus'') is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is also known by the common name Congo forest mouse.Schlitter, D. & Kerbis Peterhans, J. 2008''Deomys ferrugineus''.The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. V ...

'', is part of the

clade A clade (), also known as a monophyletic group or natural group, is a group of organisms that are monophyletic – that is, composed of a common ancestor and all its lineal descendants – on a phylogenetic tree. Rather than the English term, ...

. Deomyinae is the older name and therefore has priority over Acomyinae. Deomyines share no morphological characteristics that can be used to separate them from other muroids, though subtle aspects of the third upper molar have been suggested. This

is united solely on the basis of shared

gene In biology, the word gene (from , ; "...Wilhelm Johannsen coined the word gene to describe the Mendelian units of heredity..." meaning ''generation'' or ''birth'' or ''gender'') can have several different meanings. The Mendelian gene is a ba ...

tic mutations. These conclusions have demonstrated good

statistical Statistics (from German: ''Statistik'', "description of a state, a country") is the discipline that concerns the collection, organization, analysis, interpretation, and presentation of data. In applying statistics to a scientific, industria ...

support using nuclear and

mitochondrial DNA Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA or mDNA) is the DNA located in mitochondria, cellular organelles within eukaryotic cells that convert chemical energy from food into a form that cells can use, such as adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Mitochondrial D ...

, and DNA-DNA hybridization. Actually, all of the species in the subfamily share stiff hairs somewhere on their bodies. Because of the lack of physical characteristics supporting this group, it is very possible that the subfamily as it is currently recognized is subject to enlargement. Many of the

genera Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nomenclat ...

currently placed in the Murinae or Dendromurinae have never been included in a

molecular phylogenetic Molecular phylogenetics () is the branch of phylogeny that analyzes genetic, hereditary molecular differences, predominantly in DNA sequences, to gain information on an organism's evolutionary relationships. From these analyses, it is possible to ...

analysis. Potential surprises await when they are. All genera are found in

Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...

, suggesting the deomyines may have originated there. The spiny mice, '' Acomys'' spp., are also found in

Asia Asia (, ) is one of the world's most notable geographical regions, which is either considered a continent in its own right or a subcontinent of Eurasia, which shares the continental landmass of Afro-Eurasia with Africa. Asia covers an area ...

. The four genera and 54 species included in the Deomyinae are: *Subfamily Deomyinae **Genus '' Acomys'' - spiny mice ***

Western Saharan spiny mouse The Western Saharan spiny mouse or Aïr spiny mouse (''Acomys airensis'') is a species of small, insectivorous rodent in the family Muridae found arid regions of western Africa. Description The Western Saharan spiny mouse is a small mouse with ...

, ''Acomys airensis'' ***

Cairo spiny mouse The Cairo spiny mouse (''Acomys cahirinus''), also known as the common spiny mouse, Egyptian spiny mouse, or Arabian spiny mouse, is a nocturnal species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found in Africa north of the Sahara, where its natur ...

, ''Acomys cahirinus'' ***

Chudeau's spiny mouse Chudeau's spiny mouse (''Acomys chudeaui'') is a species of rodent in the family Muridae found in Mauritania and Morocco. Its natural habitat In ecology, the term habitat summarises the array of resources, physical and biotic factors t ...

, ''Acomys chudeaui'' ***

Asia Minor spiny mouse The Asia Minor spiny mouse (''Acomys cilicicus'') is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. Description ''Acomys cilicicus'' is a small terrestrial and social rodent, living in large groups. The head and the body reach a length of , with a ...

, ''Acomys cilicicus'' ***

Gray spiny mouse The gray spiny mouse (''Acomys cineraceus'') is a species of rodent in the family Muridae found in Ethiopia, Kenya, South Sudan, and Uganda. Its natural habitats are dry savanna, moist savanna, rocky areas, arable land Arable land (from the ...

, ''Acomys cineraceus'' ***

Eastern spiny mouse The eastern spiny mouse or Arabian spiny mouse (''Acomys dimidiatus'') is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. They have a wide range, having been found in Middle Eastern deserts, as well as being prevalent in riverine forests in Africa. ...

, ''Acomys dimidiatus'' ***

Fiery spiny mouse The fiery spiny mouse (''Acomys ignitus'') is a species of rodent in the family Muridae found in Kenya and Tanzania. Its natural habitats are dry savanna A savanna or savannah is a mixed woodland- grassland (i.e. grassy woodland) ecosystem ...

, ''Acomys ignitus'' *** Johan's spiny mouse, ''Acomys johannis'' *** Kemp's spiny mouse, ''Acomys kempi'' ***

Louise's spiny mouse Louise's spiny mouse (''Acomys louisae'') is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found in Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia. Its natural habitats are dry savanna, subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland A grassland ...

, '' Acomys louisae'' ***

Crete spiny mouse The Crete spiny mouse (''Acomys minous'') is a species of mouse endemic to Crete Crete ( el, Κρήτη, translit=, Modern: , Ancient: ) is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the 88th largest island in the world and th ...

, ''Acomys minous'' ***

Mullah spiny mouse The Mullah spiny mouse (''Acomys mullah'') is a species of rodent in the family Muridae found in Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Somalia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry shrubland Tropical and subtropical grasslands, s ...

, ''Acomys mullah'' ***

Cyprus spiny mouse The Cyprus spiny mouse (''Acomys nesiotes'') is a little-known rodent endemic to Cyprus. These nocturnalN ...

, ''Acomys nesiotes'' ***

Percival's spiny mouse Percival's spiny mouse (''Acomys percivali'') is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found in Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, and Uganda. Its natural habitats are dry savanna A savanna or savannah is a mixed woodland- grassland ( ...

, ''Acomys percivali'' ***

Golden spiny mouse The golden spiny mouse (''Acomys russatus'') gets its name from the reddish-orange spiny fur that covers its body from head to tail. This coarse, inflexible fur is thought to protect it from predation.

, ''Acomys russatus'' ***

Seurat's spiny mouse Seurat's spiny mouse (''Acomys seurati'') is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found only in Algeria. Its natural habitat In ecology, the term habitat summarises the array of resources, physical and biotic factors that ...

, ''Acomys seurati'' ***

Southern African spiny mouse The southern African spiny mouse (''Acomys spinosissimus'') is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found in Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Its natural h ...

, ''Acomys spinosissimus'' *** Cape spiny mouse, ''Acomys subspinosus'' ***

Wilson's spiny mouse Wilson's spiny mouse (''Acomys wilsoni'') is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. Its natural habitats are dry savanna, subtropical or tropical dry shrubland T ...

, ''Acomys wilsoni'' **Genus ''

Deomys The link rat (''Deomys ferrugineus'') is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is also known by the common name Congo forest mouse.Schlitter, D. & Kerbis Peterhans, J. 2008''Deomys ferrugineus''.The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. V ...

'' ***

Link rat The link rat (''Deomys ferrugineus'') is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is also known by the common name Congo forest mouse.Schlitter, D. & Kerbis Peterhans, J. 2008''Deomys ferrugineus''.The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. V ...

, ''Deomys ferrugineus'' **Genus '' Lophuromys'' - brush-furred mice ***Subgenus ''Kivumys'' **** Yellow-bellied brush-furred rat, ''Lophuromys luteogaster'' **** Medium-tailed brush-furred rat, ''Lophuromys medicaudatus'' **** Woosnam's brush-furred rat, ''Lophuromys woosnami'' ***Subgenus ''Lophuromys'' **** Angolan brush-furred rat, ''Lophuromys angolensis'' **** Ansorge's brush-furred rat, ''Lophuromys ansorgei'' **** Gray brush-furred rat, ''Lophuromys aquilus'' ****

Short-tailed brush-furred rat The short-tailed brush-furred rat (''Lophuromys brevicaudus'') is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found only in Ethiopia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical high-altitude shrubland and subtropical or tropical high- ...

, ''Lophuromys brevicaudus'' **** Thomas's Ethiopian brush-furred rat, ''Lophuromys brunneus'' **** Chercher Mountains brush-furred mouse, ''Lophuromys chercherensis'' ****

Ethiopian forest brush-furred rat The Ethiopian forest brush-furred rat or golden-footed brush-furred rat (''Lophuromys chrysopus''), is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is endemic to Ethiopia where its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests ...

, ''Lophuromys chrysopus'' **** Dieterlen's brush-furred mouse, ''Lophuromys dieterleni'' **** Dudu's brush-furred rat, ''Lophuromys dudui'' **** Eisentraut's brush-furred rat, ''Lophuromys eisentrauti'' ****

Yellow-spotted brush-furred rat The yellow-spotted brush-furred rat (''Lophuromys flavopunctatus'') is a species of rodent in the family Muridae found in Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Zambia. Its na ...

, ''Lophuromys flavopunctatus'' ****

Hutterer's brush-furred mouse Hutterer's brush-furred mouse or Hutterer's brush-furred rat (''Lophuromys huttereri'') is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found only in Democratic Republic of the Congo, where its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist ...

, ''Lophuromys huttereri'' **** Kilonzo's brush-furred mouse, ''Lophuromys kilonzoi'' ****'' Lophuromys laticeps'' ****'' Lophuromys machangui'' **** Makundi's brush-furred mouse, ''Lophuromys makundii'' ****'' Lophuromys margarettae'' **** Black-clawed brush-furred rat, ''Lophuromys melanonyx'' **** Menagesha brush-furred mouse, ''Lophuromys menageshae'' **** Fire-bellied brush-furred rat, ''Lophuromys nudicaudus'' **** False rusty-bellied brush-furred rat, ''Lophuromys pseudosikapusi'' **** Rahm's brush-furred rat, ''Lophuromys rahmi'' ****'' Lophuromys rita'' **** Mount Cameroon brush-furred rat, ''Lophuromys roseveari'' **** Sabuni's brush-furred mouse, ''Lophuromys sabunii'' ****

Rusty-bellied brush-furred rat The rusty-bellied brush-furred rat (''Lophuromys sikapusi'') is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found in Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Equ ...

, ''Lophuromys sikapusi'' ****'' Lophuromys simensis'' **** Stanley's brush-furred mouse, ''Lophuromys stanleyi'' **** Verhagen's brush-furred mouse, ''Lophuromys verhageni'' **** Zena's brush-furred rat, ''Lophuromys zena'' **Genus ''

Uranomys Rudd's mouse or the white-bellied brush-furred rat (''Uranomys ruddi'') is the only member of the genus ''Uranomys''. This animal is closely related to the spiny mice, brush-furred mice, and the link rat. Description Head and body sizes ran ...

'' ***

Rudd's mouse Rudd's mouse or the white-bellied brush-furred rat (''Uranomys ruddi'') is the only member of the genus ''Uranomys''. This animal is closely related to the spiny mice, brush-furred mice, and the link rat. Description Head and body sizes ran ...

, ''Uranomys ruddi''

References

*Chevret, P., C. Denys, J.-J. Jaeger, J. Michaux, AND F. M. Catzeflis. 1993. Molecular evidence that the spiny mouse ('' Acomys'') is more closely related to gerbils (

Gerbillinae Gerbillinae is one of the subfamilies of the rodent family Muridae and includes the gerbils, jirds, and sand rats. Once known as desert rats, the subfamily includes about 110 species of African, Indian, and Asian rodents, including sand rats and ...

) than to the true mice (Murinae). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA, 90:3433-3436. *Jansa, S. A. and M. Weksler.

Phylogeny A phylogenetic tree (also phylogeny or evolutionary tree Felsenstein J. (2004). ''Inferring Phylogenies'' Sinauer Associates: Sunderland, MA.) is a branching diagram or a tree showing the evolutionary relationships among various biological spec ...

of muroid

s: relationships within and among major lineages as determined by IRBP

sequences. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 31:256-276. *Michaux, J., A. Reyes, and F. Catzeflis. 2001. Evolutionary history of the most speciose

mammal Mammals () are a group of vertebrate animals constituting the class Mammalia (), characterized by the presence of mammary glands which in females produce milk for feeding (nursing) their young, a neocortex (a region of the brain), fur or ...

s: molecular

phylogeny A phylogenetic tree (also phylogeny or evolutionary tree Felsenstein J. (2004). ''Inferring Phylogenies'' Sinauer Associates: Sunderland, MA.) is a branching diagram or a tree showing the evolutionary relationships among various biological spec ...

of muroid

s. Molecular Biology and Evolution, 17:280-293. *Steppan, S. J., R. A. Adkins, and J. Anderson. 2004.

and

divergence da In vector calculus, divergence is a vector operator that operates on a vector field, producing a scalar field giving the quantity of the vector field's source at each point. More technically, the divergence represents the volume density of the ...

te estimates of rapid radiations in muroid rodents based on multiple nuclear

s. Systematic Biology, 53:533-553. {{Taxonbar, from=Q131896 Mammal subfamilies . Taxa named by Oldfield Thomas