Thryonomyidae

Thryonomyidae is a family of hystricognath rodents that contains the cane rats (Thryonomys) found throughout sub-Saharan Africa, and a number of fossil genera.

Thryonomyidae Temporal range: Oligocene - Recent 23.7–0 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Greater cane rat (Thryonomys swinderianus)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Rodentia
Parvorder:	Phiomorpha
Family:	Thryonomyidae Pocock, 1922
Genera
1 living and many extinct, see text

Taxonomy

Thryonomyidae was formerly more diverse and widespread, with fossil relatives found in India and Arabia as well.^[1] The extinct genus Sacaresia from the island of Mallorca off Spain may also be a member of this family,^[2] though its position remains uncertain.

• Genus †Epiphiomys
  • †Epiphiomys coryndoni
• Genus †Gaudeamus
  • †Gaudeamus aegyptius
• Genus †Kochalia
  • †Kochalia geespei
• Genus †Monamys
  • †Monamys simonsi
• Genus †Neosciuromys
  • †Neosciuromys africanus
• Genus †Paraphiomys
  • †Paraphiomys afarensis
  • †Paraphiomys hopwoodi
  • †Paraphiomys knolli
  • †Paraphiomys occidentalis
  • †Paraphiomys orangeus
  • †Paraphiomys pigotti
  • †Paraphiomys renelavocati
  • †Paraphiomys shipmani
• Genus †Paraulacodus
  • †Paraulacodus indicus
  • †Paraulacodus johanesi
• Genus †Protohummus
  • †Protohummus dango
• Genus †Sacaresia?
  • †Sacaresia moyaeponsi
• Genus Thryonomys
  • Thryonomys gregorianus
  • Thryonomys swinderianus
  • †Thryonomys asakomae

Former fossil members of the family include the genus Apodecter and two species of Paraphiomys (australis and roessneri), which have now been transferred to the related Petromuridae.^[3]

References

1. Lopez Antonanzas, R. (2004). "Systematics and phylogeny of the cane rats (Rodentia: Thryonomyidae)". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 142 (3): 423–444. doi:10.1111/j.1096-3642.2004.00136.x. hdl:10261/44218.
2. van der Geer, Alexandra; Lyras, George; de Vos, John (2011). Evolution of Island Mammals: Adaptation and Extinction of Placental Mammals on Islands. Wiley. p. 183. ISBN 9781119675747.
3. Sallam, H.M.; Seiffert, E.R. (2019). "Revision of Oligocene 'Paraphiomys' and an origin for crown Thryonomyoidea (Rodentia: Hystricognathi: Phiomorpha) near the Oligocene–Miocene boundary in Africa". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 190 (1): 352–371. doi:10.1093/zoolinnean/zlz148.