Charada Vlei Rat

materials_examined

Holotype: BMNH 6.11. 1.29. Type locality: Ethiopia, Charada Forest, Kaffa, 1829 m a. s. l .. Taxonomic notes: Otomys fortior shares a common karyotype of 2 n = 58, NFa = 58 with O. typus and O. helleri, as well as higher number of eight laminae in M 3. This is the most distinct species in the TYPUS group, both genomically (Figs 3 – 6) and ecologically (the only species living in forest clearings at relatively low elevation in south-western Ethiopia; Fig. 2). Morphological analysis did not show any special ecological adaptations to different environments. Distribution: The species lives in tropical forests in south-western Ethiopia, west of the Omo River, from where we provide numerous new data [compared to Taylor et al. (2011)]. The elevational range of genetically confirmed records is 1360 – 2600 m a. s. l .. The specimens from the Jimma area were assigned to O. fortior based on geographic and ecological data. However, based on cranial characteristics, they are related to O. cheesmani (Taylor et al. 2011), which might be just an artefact of morphological analysis.

Genomic diversity, evolutionary history, and species limits of the endemic Ethiopian laminate-toothed rats (genus Otomys, Rodentia: Muridae)

activity

Activity patterns. The Charada Vlei Rat is presumably diurnal or crepuscular.

Muridae

biology_ecology

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Muridae

description

Descriptive notes. Head-body 145 - 182 mm, tail 85 - 98 mm, ear 20 - 26 mm, hindfoot 28 — 30 mm. No specific data are available for body weight. The Charada Vlei Rat is large and robust, with large blunt head, short tail, and shaggy fur. Dorsum is dark brown, similar to the Ethiopian Vlei Rat (O. typus). Tail of the Charada Vlei Rat is short (c. 58 % of headbody length). Lower incisors have two deep grooves. M has four laminae, and M * has modal number of eight laminae. Chromosomal complementis 2 n = 58 and FNa = 58.

Muridae