Lophiomys Imhausi

Abstract

IN NATURE of January 1, 1880, I published a note on the “habitat” of that strange and excessively rare rodent Lophiomys Imhausi; it may interest many of your readers to know that I have recently received from Count Lodovico Marazzani asplendid specimen of that species from a new locality, viz. Erkauid, on the mountains between Suakin and Singat, where it was captured quite accidentally on April 12 last by a shot from a small revolver. It was also secured and preserved by mere chance, for it was found by a small terrier and killed at the bottom of a deep fissure in the granitic rocks, and its value was quite ignored by those who first handled it; thus the skeleton and viscera were lost, but happily the skin was in excellent condition, and the skull had been left attached. It is an adult female and has four teats, two pectoral or rather axillary, and two inguinal; it is rather larger than the fine specimen at Genoa, but does not differ in colour or richness of fur. The luxuriant dorsal mane to which this creature owes its name is separated from the long hairs of the body by a narrow stripe of short stiff greyish green bristles. The iris was dark brown, and the animal emanated no special odour.