Shortridge multi-teat mouse

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Shortridge multi-teat mouse
Systematics
Family : Long-tailed mice (Muridae)
Subfamily : Old World Mice (Murinae)
Tribe : Praomyini
Stenocephalemys group
Genre : Multi-teat mice ( Mastomys )
Type : Shortridge multi-teat mouse
Scientific name
Mastomys shortridgei
( St. Leger , 1933)

The Shortridge multi-teat mouse ( Mastomys shortridgei ) is a rodent in the subfamily of Old World mice found in southwestern Africa .

features

With a head-to-trunk length of 103 to 137 mm, a tail length of 86 to 118 mm and a weight of 35 to 74 g, the species is a medium-sized long-tailed mouse. It has hind feet 23 to 27 mm long and ears 17 to 20 mm long. The top is covered with dark gray to black fur, while on the underside there is slightly lighter gray fur. As a contrast, the hair on the top of the hands and feet is white. The tail is not lighter on the underside. The preserved holotype of the species was a female with five pairs of teats . However, in various papers eight pairs of teats are given for the Shortridge multi-teat mouse. The species can be confused with the Natal multi-teat mouse ( Mastomys natalensis ). In the latter, on the other hand, females have twelve pairs of teats and the tail is relatively longer.

Regarding the number of chromosomes, the species resembles the southern polyteat mouse ( Mastomys coucha ), but when fully grown it has a red-brown fur.

distribution

The distribution area is in the area of ​​the mouth of the river Cuito (Kvito) in the Okavango . It stretches from the south of Angola through northeast Namibia to the north of Botswana . According to some sources, there are also finds from eastern Angola. The Shortridge multi-teat mouse can be found in swamps or in regions that are only occasionally flooded along these rivers. The area is in the lowlands up to 400 meters above sea level. The vegetation consists mainly of reeds or grass.

Way of life

The species is nocturnal and ground dwelling. It eats grains and possibly small animals. A young animal was registered in February. Adult females showed no reproductive behavior in April and May.

Danger

There are no threats to the Shortridge polyteat mouse. The IUCN lists the species as Least Concern .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ 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, Mastomys shortridgei ).
  2. ↑ a b c d Jonathan Kingdon et al .: Mammals of Africa . Bloomsbury Publishing, ISBN 978-1-4081-8996-2 , pp. 471-472 ( Mastomys shortridgei ).
  3. ↑ Don E. Wilson, Thomas E. Lacher Jr., Russell A. Mittermeier (eds.): Handbook of the Mammals of the World. Volume 7 - Rodents II . Lynx Edicions, 2017, ISBN 978-84-16728-04-6 , pp. 807 (English).
  4. ↑ a b c mastomys shortridgei in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2016 Posted by: Cassola, F., 2016. Retrieved on February 26 2020th