A GENIC COMPARISON OF SPINY MICE, GENUS ACOMYS

Electrophoretic analyses of eight taxa of Acomys from eastern and southern Africa and the Near East indicate that significant biochemical evolution has occurred among the taxa examined. Acomys subspinosus and A. spinosissimus from southern Africa were allozymically distinct from one another and from other taxa of Acomys. A. russatus was distinct from other taxa that occur in northern Africa and the Near East. A. percivali, previously included in the cahirinus species group, is a valid species genically most similar to A. wilsoni. A. kempi and A. ignitus are distinct from each other and from A. cahirinus.