Yalden's Vei Rat

description

Otomys sp. A: Lavrenchenko et al., (1997). Otomys typus A: Aniskin et al. (1998). Holotype: ZMMU 162594; adult male, dry skin and skull, collector’s number 132; collected by L. A. Lavrenchenko, 17 February 1995. Type locality: Ethiopia, vicinity of Dinsho, Bale Mountains, 3170 m a. s. l .. Taxonomicnotes: ThesmallestrepresentativeofEthiopian Otomys, reported only from the Bale Mts., differing from O. simiensis by its smaller size and karyotype (Taylor et al. 2011). There are no DNA sequences of this species, and its phylogenetic position is unresolved. We assigned the animals of the SIMIENSIS group from Ankober to O. cf. yaldeni. The possible conspecificity of Ankober and Bale populations was further supported by morphological analysis that included the type material of O. yaldeni (Fig. 7). The population in Ankober represents the first record of O. yaldeni west of GRV, but future studies should confirm it by the sequencing of O. yaldeni from Bale (from where only old museum material is now available). The biogeographical link between Bale-Arsi (east of GRV) and DebreSina-Ankober-Guwasa (west of GRV) has been observed in various vertebrate taxa, including rodents (e. g. Stenocephal

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

activity

Activity patterns. Yalden’s Vlei Rat is presumably diurnal or crepuscular.

Muridae

biology_ecology

Habitat. Mosaic of forest and grassland habitats at elevations of 2650 - 3800 m. Holotype and paratypes ofYalden’s Vlei Rat were collected in Afro-montane forest, bamboo patches, moorland, and open woodland.

Muridae

biology_ecology

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Muridae