QUANTIFYING PELAGE COLORATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIA SPINY RATS GENUS Maxomys (MURIDAE: RODENTIA) USING SPECTROPHOTOMETRIC MEASUREMENTS

We documented preliminary study of coat color variations within Maxomys, one the most common rats in Southeast Asian region. sampled skin specimens that mostly deposited at Museum Zoologicum Bogoriense, Indonesia. Quantitative measurements using spectrophotometer revealed no significant difference dorsal pelage showing dark brown (L*= 25-30, a*= 5-7, b*= 10-15). The ventral colorations were variable among species. classified five different types based on measurements: whitish grey (M. baeodon, M. whiteheadi, musschenbroekii, bartelsii, and dollmani), orange hylomyoides), chestnut ochraceiventer), yellowish alticola) creamy white rajah, hellwaldii, surifer). These fur characteristics can be useful species recognition, together with craniometric features. Furthermore, molecular variation Maxomys spp. is needed to elucidate mechanisms phenotypic morphology affect patterns divergence, speciation evolutionary history Maxomys. Here, we failed obtain sequences from Mc1r (melanocortin-1 receptor) gene, probably will better use other gene such as ASIP (agouti signaling peptide) gene.