Libyan racing rat

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Libyan racing rat
Systematics
Family : Long-tailed mice (Muridae)
Subfamily : Gerbils (Gerbillinae)
Tribe : Gerbillini
Sub tribus : Rhombomyina
Genre : Racing rats ( meriones )
Type : Libyan racing rat
Scientific name
Meriones libycus
Lichtenstein , 1823

The Libyan racing rat ( Meriones libycus ) is a rodent from the genus of racing rats ( Meriones ) within the gerbils (Gerbillinae). It is widespread in desert and semi-desert areas from North Africa over large parts of the Middle East and Central Asia to the western People's Republic of China .

features

The Libyan racing rat reaches a head-torso length of 10.0 to 18.0 centimeters with a tail of 10.8 to 18.0 centimeters in length and a weight of 56 to 155 grams. The rear foot length is about 31 to 38 millimeters, the ear length about 11 to 22 millimeters. It is accordingly a medium-sized species of the genus with a long tail, the length of which corresponds approximately to the length of the head and torso. The back fur is gray-brown to pale sand-gray, the peritoneum is white with gray hair at the base and white at the tips. The back and peritoneum are separated by a narrow orange line. The ears are not pigmented and covered with a few thin white hairs, behind which there is a small white spot. The front and rear legs are white, the soles are only partially hairy and have several bare spots. The hind feet have dark claws. The tail has a reddish-brown base and is monochrome pale brown in color, the rear third is hazel brown to black and has a conspicuous tail tassel.

The skull has a total length of 36 to 42 millimeters. It is slightly larger than that of the midday mouse, the forehead and inter-eye region are broad. The front of the ear canal is enlarged and merges into an enlarged tympanic bladder 33 to 35% of the total length of the skull. A bulge above the eye is clearly formed and extends to the sides of the skull. The upper incisor teeth each have a slight groove. The genome consists of a diploid chromosome set of 2n = 44 (FN = 74) chromosomes.

distribution

The Libyan racing rat is widespread in desert and semi-desert areas from North Africa from Morocco to Egypt and across the Arabian Peninsula and large parts of the Middle East and Central Asia to the western People's Republic of China . In North Africa the distribution area extends from the Moroccan Atlantic coast and the northern edge of the Atlas over the northern regions of Tunisia and Algeria as well as most of Libya to the north of Egypt.

Way of life

The Libyan racing rat lives in arid desert areas, especially in regions with stable sand dunes . The animals are mainly diurnal, but can also be found at night. They mainly feed on seeds herbivore . Like other racing rats, the animals are very social and build underground burrows. In Asia they also use the burrows of the gerbil ( Rhombomys opimus ). Its own burrows are less complex than those of the gerbil, but are often more complex than those of other gerbils. A typical territory is characterized by 10 to 60 entrance holes. The burrows consist of two levels with an upper level, which is mainly used for storing up to 10 kilograms of food per burrow, and a level up to 1.5 meters deep in which the nest chambers are located. The burrows are inhabited by several individuals, in winter up to 25 or 30 animals can gather in a common burrow to spend the winter.

The Libyan racing rat is reproductive throughout the year, but the peak of sexual activity is in the summer months. The females get several litters a year with an average of five to six young animals.

Systematics

The Libyan racing rat is classified as an independent species within the racing rats ( Meriones ), which consists of about 20 species. The first scientific description comes from the German zoologist Martin Hinrich Lichtenstein , who described the species in 1823 using individuals from the “Libian desert”. The terra typica was later interpreted as Egypt , near Alexandria .

Status, threat and protection

The Libyan racing rat is classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) as not endangered (least concern). This is justified with the very large distribution area and the generally frequent occurrence of the species. Potential threats are not known for the species, in parts of the distribution area it is regarded as a pest.

supporting documents

  1. ↑ a b c d e f g h i Darrin Lunde, Andrew T. Smith: Libyan Gerbil. In: Andrew T. Smith , Yan Xie: A Guide to the Mammals of China. Princeton University Press, Princeton NJ 2008, ISBN 978-0-691-09984-2 , pp. 249-250.
  2. ↑ a b c d e f g E. Fichet-Calvet: Meriones libycus, Libyan Jird. In: Jonathan Kingdon, David Happold, Michael Hoffmann, Thomas Butynski, Meredith Happold and Jan Kalina (eds.): Mammals of Africa Volume III. Rodents, Hares and Rabbits. Bloomsbury, London 2013, pp. 336-338; ISBN 978-1-4081-2253-2 .
  3. ↑ a b c Meriones libycus in the IUCN 2017-3 Red List of Threatened Species . Posted by: L. Granjo, 2008. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
  4. ↑ Meriones (Pallasiomys) libycus . In: Don E. Wilson , DeeAnn M. Reeder (Eds.): Mammal Species of the World. A taxonomic and geographic Reference. 2 volumes. 3. Edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD 2005, ISBN 0-8018-8221-4 .

literature

  • Darrin Lunde, Andrew T. Smith: Libyan Gerbil. In: Andrew T. Smith , Yan Xie: A Guide to the Mammals of China. Princeton University Press, Princeton NJ 2008, ISBN 978-0-691-09984-2 , pp. 249-250.
  • E. Fichet-Calvet: Meriones libycus, Libyan Jird. In: Jonathan Kingdon, David Happold, Michael Hoffmann, Thomas Butynski, Meredith Happold and Jan Kalina (eds.): Mammals of Africa Volume III. Rodents, Hares and Rabbits. Bloomsbury, London 2013, pp. 336-338; ISBN 978-1-4081-2253-2 .

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