Discussion of Taxonomy of Vernaya's Climbing Mouse

Species of genus Vernaya live in subtropical areas.The range of this genus,so far as at present made out,includes Yunnan,Sichuan,Gansu,Shaanxi and probably northern Burma.It was reported that there were 2 species--V.fulva and V.foramena in Vernaya in China.All our six specimens were from mountainous areas in southern Gansu Province and southwestern Shaanxi Province,and these areas are adjacent to the region where the model specimens of V.foramena were collected.According to the distribution,pelage colour,measurements and characteristics of skull,undobtedly,our specimens belong to V.foramena.Our study results indicated that the identification characteristics of V.foramena (2 foramens on frontal and T10 doesnt separate from T11 on M1) were unstable.We found that V.foramena could be distinguished from V.fulva by a light pelage colour and a bulgy braincase.So,V.foramena should be considered as a subspecies to V.fulva,namely,V.f.foramena.