Molecular phylogeny and morphological diversity of the Niviventer fulvescens species complex with emphasis on species from China Author Ge, Deyan Author Feijó, Anderson Author Abramov, Alexei V. Author Wen, Zhixin Author Liu, Zhengjia Author Cheng, Jilong Author Xia, Lin Author Lu, Liang Author Yang, Qisen text Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 2021 191 journal volume 0024-4082 A0C63287-87B3-42E0-BC0E-CACDE62A8137 NIVIVENTER FULVESCENS (GRAY, 1847) ( FIGS 5B , 6 ) Indomalayan niviventer, chestnut white-bellied rat. Mus fulvescens Grey, 1847: 18 . Nepal . Mus caudatior Hodgson, 1849: 203 . Nepal . Holotype : NHM 45.1.8.376. Collected by B. H. Hodgson. The holotype is badly damaged. The animal is small and immature, with the dorsal and ventral coat missing in several places. Type locality: Nepal . Measurements: No measurements were available for the holotype . BM , EMs and CMs (mean ± 1 SD, range, BM in g, measurements in mm) from molecular vouchers and museum specimens: BM = 66.82 ± 14.04 (40–91, N = 37). EMs of 37 adult specimens: HBL = 131.60 ± 11.18, TL = 187.74 ± 14.94, HFL = 27.22 ± 2.01 and EL = 20 ± 2.50. CMs from 29 intact adult specimens: TLC = 15.15 ± 1.73, NL = 12.92 ± 1.22, GWS = 5.40 ± 0.44, SDO = 5.65 ± 0.30, ZB = 15.09 ± 1.24, GMB = 13.28 ± 0.61, PL = 17.27 ± 0.95, IFL = 5.79 ± 0.59, WIF = 2.52 ± 0.20, GPB = 6.68 ± 0.35, LTB = 5.84 ± 0.52, ULMM = 5.76 ± 0.30, ULMD = 8.86 ± 0.68, ML = 16.70 ± 1.13, LLMM = 5.66 ± 0.33 and LLMD = 4.61 ± 0.49. Diagnosis: Niviventer fulvescens can be distinguished from other species within the NFSC by its longer tail and ears. It could be easily mistaken for N . huang , but N . fulvescens inhabits higher elevations. Distribution: Nepal , south-western China and northern Indochina. In China it is distributed in higher mountains from south-western Yunnan to south-eastern Tibet . Comments: Niviventer fulvescens is taxonomically the most ambiguous species of the NFSC . Previous studies largely overestimated the distribution range of this species ( Allen, 1938 ; Musser & Carleton, 2005 ). According to molecular voucher specimens, it inhabits middle- to high-elevation mountains in south-western Yunnan and south-eastern Tibet. The present analyses identifies two major genetic lineages within N . fulvescens ( Fig. 1 ); the first lineage was confined to south-eastern Tibet along the Himalayan Mountains. The second lineage was distributed in south-western Yunnan, western Sichuan and northern Vietnam . Pelage coloration differs slightly between these two genetic lineages. The lineage from south-eastern Tibet has a darker coloration than those from Yunnan. Spines are more prominent in individuals from Yunnan than in those from the other locations. Sympatric species: The distribution of N . fulvescens largely overlaps with those of N . andersoni and N . niviventer . The last two species also inhabit middleto high-elevation mountains in southern China . Niviventer andersoni is distinguishable by its larger size and bicoloured tail (the one-third near the tip is white) and N . niviventer belongs to the NNSC and has a darker pelage.