Another new species has been discovered. This one is a little special as it's the first new terrestrial mammal to be discovered in Europe in quite a while. It is Mus cypriacus, the Cypriot mouse. Thomas Cucchi, the discoverer, states:
"All other endemic mammals of Mediterranean islands died out following the arrival of man, with the exception of two species of shrew. The new mouse of Cyprus is the only endemic rodent still alive, and as such can be considered as a living fossil."
Full source: Cucchi et al. (2006) "A new endemic species of the subgenus Mus (Rodentia, Mammalia) on the Island of Cyprus" Zootaxa 1241: 1-36 (23 Jun. 2006).
- Log in to post comments