204 EXTINCT AND VANISHING MAMMALS 



Jackson's Maned Rat 



LOPHIOMYS TESTUDO Thomas 



Lophiomys testudo Thomas, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., ser. 7, vol. 15, p. 80, 1905. 

 ("Ravine Station, [Mau Plateau,] British East Africa.") 



"The type-specimen . . . remains to this date unique" (Hollister, 

 1919, p. 37). 



This species differs from the others in skull characters; "line of 

 glandular bristles on sides narrower and less conspicuous than in 

 other species" (Thomas, 1910, p. 223). "Basal third of underfur 

 dark brown, middle third white, tip black, the contrast between the 

 colours more marked than in L. Imhausi. Suborbital white spot well 

 marked. Dark band dividing the frontal from the auricular white 

 patch scarcely perceptible. . . . Hairs of lateral line olive. Under 

 surface hoary grey .... Tail with its underfur mixed whitish and 

 black, the tip for a length of about half an inch sharply contrasted 

 white. . . . Head and body 296 mm.; tail 176." (Thomas, 1905, 

 p. 81.) 



Mau Maned Rat 



LOPHIOMYS IBEANUS Thomas 



Llophiomys] ibeanus Thomas, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., ser. 8, vol. 6, p. 223, 

 1910. ("Mile 513 of the Uganda Railway (between Londiani and Lumbwa 

 Stations) in Mau region," Kenya.) 



SYNONYM?: Lophiomys ibeanus hindei Thomas (1910). 



FIGS.: A. B. Baker, 1912, pi. 1; Hollister, 1919, pi. 2. 



This is perhaps the least rare species of Lophiomys. It occurs in 

 the Mau region of Kenya, while the doubtfully distinct L. i. hindei 

 has been recorded from the neighboring Aberdare Range and from 

 Mount Kenya (Hollister, 1919, pp. 38-39) . 



This species "is coloured like the Abyssinian form referred to 

 L. bozasi, and has equally prominent lateral stripes." It differs 

 from other species in skull characters. (Thomas, 1910, pp. 223-224.) 



In addition to the type, specimens of L. i. ibeanus are recorded 

 from El-Burgon and from the Mau Forest near Njoro, Kenya, while 

 three specimens of L. i. hindei are recorded from the Aberdare 

 Mountains (Thomas, 1910, p. 224). 



A. B. Baker (1912, p. 2) writes: 



This species of Lophiomys occurs in the higher part of British East Africa 

 and is known only to the Wanderobo, a tribe of expert hunters, who explore 

 every corner of the forests. Mr. Goldfinch was well acquainted both with the 

 game of that region and with its animals generally, but this one he knew 

 only from descriptions given by the natives. At his urgent request they secured 

 two specimens in the forest near Nakuru, at about 8000 feet altitude. . . . 



Mr. Goldfinch states that Lophiomys is arboreal and lives in the thick 

 forest of the high country, . . . also that the natives are averse to handling 



