The subfamily Deomyinae consists of four genera of mouse-like rodents that were placed in the subfamilies Murinae and Dendromurinae until very recently. They are sometimes called the Acomyinae, particularly in references that antedate the discovery that the link rat, Deomys ferugineus, is part of the clade. Deomyinae is the older name and therefore has priority over Acomyinae.
Deomyines share no morphological characteristics that can be used to separate them from other muroids, though subtle aspects of the third upper molar have been suggested. This subfamily is united solely on the basis of shared genetic mutations. These conclusions have demonstrated good statistical support using nuclear and mitochondrial DNA, and DNA-DNA hybridization.
Because of the lack of physical characteristics supporting this group, it is very possible that the subfamily as it is currently recognized is subject to enlargement. Many of the genera currently placed in the Murinae or Dendromurinae have never been included in a molecular phylogenetic analysis. Potential surprises await when they are.
All genera are found in Africa, suggesting the deomyines may have originated there. The spiny mice, Acomys spp., are also found in Asia.
The four genera and 54 species included in the Deomyinae are:
Subfamily Deomyinae
Genus Acomys - spiny mice
Western Saharan spiny mouse, Acomys airensis
Cairo spiny mouse, Acomys cahirinus
Chudeau's spiny mouse, Acomys chudeaui
Asia Minor spiny mouse, Acomys cilicicus
Gray spiny mouse, Acomys cineraceus
Eastern spiny mouse, Acomys dimidiatus
Fiery spiny mouse, Acomys ignitus
Johan's spiny mouse, Acomys johannis
Kemp's spiny mouse, Acomys kempi
Louise's spiny mouse, Acomys louisae
Crete spiny mouse, Acomys minous
Mullah spiny mouse, Acomys mullah
Cyprus spiny mouse, Acomys nesiotes
Percival's spiny mouse, Acomys percivali
Golden spiny mouse, Acomys russatus
Seurat's spiny mouse, Acomys seurati
Southern African spiny mouse, Acomys spinosissimus
Cape spiny mouse, Acomys subspinosus
Wilson's spiny mouse, Acomys wilsoni
Genus Deomys
Link rat, Deomys ferrugineus
Genus Lophuromys - brush-furred mice
Subgenus Kivumys
Yellow-bellied brush-furred rat, Lophuromys luteogaster
Medium-tailed brush-furred rat, Lophuromys medicaudatus
Woosnam's brush-furred rat, Lophuromys woosnami
Subgenus Lophuromys
Angolan brush-furred mouse, Lophuromys angolensis
Ansorge's brush-furred mouse, Lophuromys ansorgei
Gray brush-furred rat, Lophuromys aquilus
Short-tailed brush-furred rat, Lophuromys brevicaudus
Brown brush-furred mouse, Lophuromys brunneus
Chercher Mountains brush-furred mouse, Lophuromys chercherensis
Ethiopian forest brush-furred rat, Lophuromys chrysopus
Dieterlen's brush-furred mouse, Lophuromys dieterleni
Dudu's brush-furred mouse, Lophuromys dudui
Eisentraut's brush-furred rat, Lophuromys eisentrauti
Yellow-spotted brush-furred rat, Lophuromys flavopunctatus
Hutterer's brush-furred mouse, Lophuromys huttereri
Kilonzo's brush-furred mouse, Lophuromys kilonzoi
Lophuromys laticeps
Lophuromys machangui
Makundi's brush-furred mouse, Lophuromys makundii
Lophuromys margarettae
Black-clawed brush-furred rat, Lophuromys melanonyx
Menagesha brush-furred mouse, Lophuromys menageshae
Fire-bellied brush-furred rat, Lophuromys nudicaudus
False rusty-bellied brush-furred rat, Lophuromys pseudosikapusi
Rahm's brush-furred rat, Lophuromys rahmi
Lophuromys rita
Mount Cameroon brush-furred rat, Lophuromys roseveari
Sabuni's brush-furred mouse, Lophuromys sabunii
Rusty-bellied brush-furred rat, Lophuromys sikapusi
Lophuromys simensis
Stanley's brush-furred mouse, Lophuromys stanleyi
Verhagen's brush-furred mouse, Lophuromys verhageni
Zena brush-furred mouse, Lophuromys zena
Genus Uranomys
Rudd's mouse, Uranomys ruddi