Barefoot gerbils
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| Thomas , 1897 |
Barefoot gerbils ( Gerbilliscus ) are a genus of gerbils with about ten species that occur in Africa . Gerbilliscus was previously listed as a subgenus of the genus Tatera . More recent taxonomic treatises, such as Mammal Species of the World (2005), list Gerbilliscus as an independent genus, so that Tatera only contains one species, the Indian gerbil .
features
The types are similar to other gerbils in physique. They reach a head-trunk length of 9 to 20 cm and a tail length of 13 to 25 cm. The weight varies between 30 and 227 g. On the upper side, the soft fur has a sand-brown, gray-brown to black-brown color. The belly and feet are whitish to completely white. Most species have a tassel made of long hair at the tail end. It is named after the hairless soles of the hind feet.
Species, distribution and status
According to Wilson & Reeder (2005), the genus consists of 11 species, which are divided into two sub-genera.
- Subgenus Gerbilliscus
- Boehm gerbil ( Gerbilliscus boehmi ), from Lake Victoria to central Zambia .
- Subgenus Taterona
- Cape gerbil ( Gerbilliscus afra ), southwestern South Africa .
- Highland gerbil ( Gerbilliscus brantsii ), southeastern Angola to eastern South Africa.
- Guinea bare-sole gerbil ( Gerbilliscus guineae ), western Senegal to northern Togo .
- Gorongoza gerbil ( Gerbilliscus inclusus ), southern Tanzania to central Mozambique .
- Kemp's gerbil ( Gerbilliscus kempi ), Guinea to western Ethiopia and western Kenya .
- White-bellied gerbil ( Gerbilliscus leucogaster ), western Democratic Republic of the Congo to central Tanzania and central South Africa.
- Black-tailed gerbil ( Gerbilliscus nigricaudus ), Kenya and neighboring regions of Ethiopia, Somalia and Tanzania.
- Philips gerbil ( Gerbilliscus phillipsi ), western Ethiopia and northern Somalia.
- Fringed-tail gerbil ( Gerbilliscus robustus ), southeastern Niger to central Sudan and central Tanzania.
- Namib gerbil ( Gerbilliscus validus ), Central Sudan to Angola and Zambia.
The IUCN lists another species in the genus with Gerbilliscus gambiana . Wilson & Reeder (2005) and Kingdon (2013) regard this as a synonym for Kemp's gerbil. All 12 species are classified as Least Concern .
Way of life
Bare-soled gerbils are mainly found in dry habitats such as savannahs , sandy areas, open stands of trees, agricultural areas and gardens. They are usually active at night or at dusk and constantly move on four feet. In case of danger, they can jump up to 1.5 meters. For short periods of rest, the individual specimens dig simple holes in the ground and for longer stays they build more or less complex tunnel systems. They remain there in extreme heat or cold. Bare-sole gerbils eat roots, seeds and green parts of plants, as well as some insects .
The reproductive behavior is largely unexplored. According to various studies, females are ready to mate all year round or only in the rainy season . Up to 13 pups are born after 22 to 30 days of gestation .
Reference literature
- Ronald M. Nowak: Walker's Mammals of the World. 2 volumes. 6th edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD et al. 1999, ISBN 0-8018-5789-9 .
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c d Ronald M. Nowak: Walker's Mammals of the World. Volume 2. 6th edition. 1999, pp. 1449-1450.
- ↑ a b Don E. Wilson , DeeAnn M. Reeder (Ed.): Mammal Species of the World . A taxonomic and geographic Reference . 3. Edition. 2 volumes. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD 2005, ISBN 0-8018-8221-4 (English, Gerbilliscus ).
- ↑ a b Gerbilliscus in the IUCN 2012 Red List of Threatened Species . Accessed October 20, 2013.
- ↑ David CD Happold: Boehm's gerbil. In: Jonathan Kingdon, David Happold, Michael Hoffmann, Thomas Butynski, Meredith Happold, Jan Kalina (eds.) Mammals of Africa. Volume 3: David CD Happold (Ed.): Rodents, hares and rabbits. Bloomsbury, London et al. 2013, ISBN 978-1-4081-2253-2 , pp. 278-279.
