[i]Lophuromys melanonyx[/i]
Our (very reliable) guide advised that this second species of small rodent that was around was most likely this species, but we never actually had us and him looking at one at the same time to confirm. So if anyone knows better, please let me know ? most of the web references to murids at Bale are also travellers trying to work out IDs from photos so not the best reference point (one had identified two species of [i]Arvicanthis[/i], which if I believed him would mean he ought to contact IUCN as they reckon there have never been any confirmed records of one of his species from Bale!).
The [i]Arvicanthis[/i] (which [i]were[/i] specifically ID?d by sight by the guide in the field ? but this isn?t exactly foolproof with small rodents) have a convex profile to the head, and these individuals have concave ?faces? with larger ears. The tail is short, which rules out some other local species (like [i]Stenocephalemys[/i] sp.). So, this is the ID I?m going with unless there are any knowledgeable Zoochatters who think otherwise!
