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Show 8 MR. O.THOMAS ON MAMMALS FROM [Jan. 17, 15. MEGADERMA FRONS, Geoffr. a. 2 - Wadelai, 26/6/86. 16. ANOMALURUS PUSILLUS, sp. n.1 (Plate I.) a. 2 • Bellima, 21/6/83. Type. b. 3 . Tingasi, 5/82. Size very much smaller than in any of the other species. General colour above uniform dark grizzled grey, the hairs throughout dark slaty grey for the greater part of their length, this colour gradually darkening to black just below a terminal band of pale grey or olivaceous. Head and limbs like back ; sides of parachutes rather darker. Underside pale yellowish white, without a tinge of rufous, the hairs on the belly pale slate basally, and dull yellowish white terminally ; outer margins of parachute below covered with coarse dark brown hairs. Tail uniform pale brown, cylindrical, rather bushy, the hairs at its end attaining a length of nearly two inches ; scales about 15 in number. Skull, as compared to that of A. beecrofti, distinguished by its very much smaller size, short muzzle, proportionately longer palatine foramina, longer orbital and shorter temporal fossae, and larger rounder bullae. Teeth as usual. Incisors orange above, pale yellow below. Molars readily distinguished by their small size. Dimensions of a female in skin :-Head and body (to anus) (c.) 280 millim. ; (to back of interfemoral membrane), 300 ; tail 134; hind foot (without claws) 4 0 2 ; ear (dried and shrunk) (c.) 20. Skull-basal length 41 millim. ; greatest breadth 29 ; interorbital breadth 12"3; height of infraorbital foramen 5*2; palate, length 21*7; diastema 10'1 ; length of palatal foramen 5-0; length of upper molar series 9'4. This interesting little animal is most nearly allied to the West- African A. beecrofti, Fraser, but differs from that species in its duller and less yellow upperside, in the entire absence of rufous on its neck and belly 3, and, as from all the other described species, in its diminutive size. 17. SCIURUS STANGERI, Waterh. a. Tingasi, 2/9/83. " Common in Monbuttu, where it is called ' Mbonga.' " - E . 18. SCIURUS RUFOBRACHIATUS, Waterh. a. 3. Bellima, 13/7/83. b. 3- Bongereh, 21/7/83. c, cl. Tingasi, 5/82 and 7/83. " Iride fusca. ' Bonga.' " - E . 1 Preliminary diagnosis published, Ann. Mag. N. H. [5] xx. p. 440, Dec 1 1887. 2 In specimen b, an adult male, rather smaller than a. 3 Young specimens of A. beecrofti are also without the bright rufous on the belly characteristic of the species, but the size of their feet and teeth would always distinguish such specimens from A. pusillus. |