South East African Vlei Rat

activity

Activity patterns. The South East African Vlei Ratis typically crepuscular.

Muridae

biology_ecology

Habitat. Montane and submontane grasslands, typically in wetlands with long rank grass and, at higher elevations, sparser and shorter grasses. Where the South East African Vlei Rat co-occurs with the Southern African Vlei Rat (O. irroratus), they are associated with plants on wetter soils, and the Angoni Vlei Rat (O. angoniensis) is associated with drier habitats further away from water.

Muridae

biology_ecology

Movements, Home range and Social organization. South East African Vlei Rats construct distinctive runways in grass. At a site near Pretoria, densities varied throughout the year from 17 ind / ha to 72 ind / ha. They are partly territorial (guarding immediate nest areas), with mean home ranges of 1730 m? for males and 1252 m? for females. They are solitary and aggressive, with levels of aggression decreasing from scrotal males to perforate females to non-scrotal males to imperforate females.

Muridae

breeding

Breeding. Females are polyestrous, with 3 — 4 births / year. Breeding is curtailed during cold dry seasonwhen food availability is reduced. Litters have 1 - 5 young. Gestation is 5 - 6 weeks. Young are born precocial, with erupted incisors capable of nipple-clinging on their mother. Sexual maturity is attained at ten weeks for females and 14 weeks for males.

Muridae