218 U.S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 2 75 



color, but E. q. denticulatus is slightly paler in the interauricular and 

 rostral areas and has less suffusion of buff on the cheeks and scapular 

 areas. 



The type specimen of E. q. denticulatus from El Gatrun can be 

 readily distinguished from a representative of Eliomys quercinus 

 munbyanus from Tagouidert (Haha), Morocco, by much more sub- 

 dued dorsal color (Avellaneous as opposed to Tawny or Kusset) and 

 paler facial region with less black enveloping the base of the pinna 

 of the ear. In E. q. denticulatus the ventral surface of the tail is black 

 except for a terminal white tuft, whereas in E. q. munbyanus it is 

 white throughout its entire length. The type specimen of E. q. dentic- 

 ulatus from El Gatrun is smaller in all external dimensions, except 

 the length of the tail, and has a more domed braincase, a narrower 

 and more attenuated rostrum, slightly more laterally and ventrally 

 inflated auditory bullae, and shorter molariform toothrows with 

 smaller individual teeth. 



From a specimen of Eliomys quercinus tunetae from Bone, northern 

 Algeria, the specimen of E. q. denticulatus is more subdued in dorsal 

 color and is paler in the facial region. Cranial comparisons with this 

 specimen of E. q. tunetae from Bone, Algeria, are not possible, but 

 compared with measurements of the type specimen of Eliomys lerotinus 

 tunetae (= Eliomys munbyanus tunetae) from Karouana, Tunisia, as 

 given by Thomas (1903) in the original description, the type specimen 

 of E. q. denticulatus from El Gatrun is slightly smaller in size of skull 

 and has a markedly shorter molariform toothrow. The slightly smaller 

 cranial size of the type specimen of E. q. denticulatus is further indi- 

 cated by comparison of its cranial measurements with those of a 

 specimen representing E. q. tunetae from Gherran ( = Gharian), 

 Tripolitania, as reported by Klaptocz (1909). 



Remarks. The few specimens available at the present time probably 

 do not demonstrate the full range of variation in the Fezzanese popu- 

 lation, but because they differ strikingly in morphological characters 

 from all other subspecies of E. quercinus, and owing to their isolated 

 geographic position, they warrant designation as a new subspecies. 



The most distinguishing features of this new subspecies of dormouse 

 are the small molariform teeth, the relatively long tail with the white 

 tip, and the generally smaller size. The immature specimens from 

 Temenhint and near Murzuch show these same characters. 



These specimens from the Fezzan represent the first records of 

 dormice from the Saharan interior of Libya. The specimen from El 

 Gatrun is perhaps the southernmost record for Eliomys quercinus in 

 the interior of North Africa and closely approaches the southern 

 limits of distribution for the species on the African continent. 



