Revisionary notes on neotropical porcupines (Rodentia, Erethizontidae). 1, Type material described by Olfers (1818) and Kuhl (1820) in the Berlin Zoological Museum. American Museum novitates ; no. 3214
Supplemental Materials
Date
1997
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New York, N.Y. : American Museum of Natural History
DOI
DOI
Abstract
In this report we identify the original material of the Brazilian erethizontids that Olfers (1818) and Kuhl (1820) described as Hystrix tortilis, H. subspinosa, H. insidiosa, and H. nycthemera. Based on our examination of the types and associated archival documents in the Museum für Naturkunde der Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, many problems concerning the type localities, diagnostic characters, and nomenclature of these species can now be resolved. Among the principal conclusions from our study are the following. (1) The collection of Brazilian mammals donated to the Berlin Zoological Museum by Count von Hoffmannsegg in 1810 is the only known source of specimens of the new erethizontid species described by Olfers (1818). (2) The names Hystrix tortilis and H. subspinosa are objective synonyms based on the same type material, the lectotype and a paralectotype, both collected at Salvador in the state of Bahia by F.A. Gomes; preserved as skins and skulls in good condition, these specimens exhibit all of the characters hitherto regarded by authors as diagnostic of the species currently known as Chaetomys subspinosus. (3) Hystrix tortilis and H. subspinosa are both available from Olfers (1818); to preserve current usage, we select subspinosa as the senior name. (4) The specimen hitherto labeled and cataloged as the type of Hystrix insidiosa and reported as such in the literature does not correspond to Olfers' and Kuhl''s descriptions and was not part of Hoffmannsegg's original collection; the real holotype, misidentified by Lichtenstein and subsequently cataloged by Peters as Cercolabes affinis Brandt, was probably also collected at Salvador by Gomes. (5) We redescribe the characters of Coendou insidiosus and comment on its complicated nomenclatural history; in particular, we confirm previous hypotheses that Coendou pallidus (Waterhouse) is a junior synonym, and that Coendou melanurus (Wagner) is not. (6) A widespread complex of small, long-furred porcupines tentatively referred to Coendou spinosus (F. Cuvier) (including villosus F. Cuvier, couiy Desmarest, nigricans Brandt, sericeus Cope, and roberti Thomas) is diagnosed and contrasted with Coendou insidiosus; although these species appear to be distinct based on available museum specimens, unvouchered field identifications should be regarded with caution. (7) Hystrix nycthemera, based on a single specimen collected by F.W. Sieber in eastern Amazonia, appears to be the oldest available name for the species currently known as Coendou koopmani Handley and Pine. We provide formal synonymies for Chaetomys subspinosus (Olfers), Coendou insidiosus (Olfers), and Coendou nycthemera (Olfers), wherein many additional details of taxonomy and nomenclature are summarized.
Description
42 p. : ill. ; 26 cm.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 38-41).
Includes bibliographical references (p. 38-41).
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