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 DeomyinaeGenus Acomys - spiny miceWestern Saharan spiny mouse, Acomys airensisCairo spiny mouse, Acomys cahirinusChudeau's spiny mouse, Acomys chudeauiAsia Minor spiny mouse, Acomys cilicicusGray spiny mouse, Acomys cineraceusEastern spiny mouse, Acomys dimidiatusFiery spiny mouse, Acomys ignitusJohan's spiny mouse, Acomys johannisKemp's spiny mouse, Acomys kempiLouise's spiny mouse, Acomys louisaeCrete spiny mouse, Acomys minousMullah spiny mouse, Acomys mullahCyprus spiny mouse, Acomys nesiotesPercival's spiny mouse, Acomys percivaliGolden spiny mouse, Acomys russatusSeurat's spiny mouse, Acomys seuratiSouthern African spiny mouse, Acomys spinosissimusCape spiny mouse, Acomys subspinosusWilson's spiny mouse, Acomys wilsoniGenus DeomysLink rat, Deomys ferrugineusGenus Lophuromys - brush-furred miceSubgenus KivumysYellow-bellied brush-furred rat, Lophuromys luteogasterMedium-tailed brush-furred rat, Lophuromys medicaudatusWoosnam's brush-furred rat, Lophuromys woosnamiSubgenus LophuromysAngolan brush-furred mouse, Lophuromys angolensisAnsorge's brush-furred mouse, Lophuromys ansorgeiGray brush-furred rat, Lophuromys aquilusShort-tailed brush-furred rat, Lophuromys brevicaudusBrown brush-furred mouse, Lophuromys brunneusChercher Mountains brush-furred mouse, Lophuromys chercherensisEthiopian forest brush-furred rat, Lophuromys chrysopusDieterlen's brush-furred mouse, Lophuromys dieterleniDudu's brush-furred mouse, Lophuromys duduiEisentraut's brush-furred rat, Lophuromys eisentrautiYellow-spotted brush-furred rat, Lophuromys flavopunctatusHutterer's brush-furred mouse, Lophuromys huttereriKilonzo's brush-furred mouse, Lophuromys kilonzoiLophuromys laticepsLophuromys machanguiMakundi's brush-furred mouse, Lophuromys makundiiLophuromys margarettaeBlack-clawed brush-furred rat, Lophuromys melanonyxMenagesha brush-furred mouse, Lophuromys menageshaeFire-bellied brush-furred rat, Lophuromys nudicaudusFalse rusty-bellied brush-furred rat, Lophuromys pseudosikapusiRahm's brush-furred rat, Lophuromys rahmiLophuromys ritaMount Cameroon brush-furred rat, Lophuromys roseveariSabuni's brush-furred mouse, Lophuromys sabuniiRusty-bellied brush-furred rat, Lophuromys sikapusiLophuromys simensisStanley's brush-furred mouse, Lophuromys stanleyiVerhagen's brush-furred mouse, Lophuromys verhageniZena brush-furred mouse, Lophuromys zenaGenus UranomysRudd's mouse, Uranomys ruddi