Nigerian Gerbil

discussion

Discussion: Subgenus Gerbillus. Lay (1983) maintained this species as valid even though it has been synonymized with G. agag by some workers (Pavlinov et al., 1990; F. Petter, 1975 b). Complex chromosomal polymorphism characterizes G. nigeriae (Volobouev et al., 1988 b), and left-handed Z-DNA was detected in metaphasic chromosomes in one sample (Viegas-Péquignot et al., 1982). Karyotypic sampling from Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Mauritania exhibit impressive variation in 2 n (60 - 74) and FNa (116 - 114) (Dobigny et al., 2002 b; Gautun et al., 1985; Granjon et al. 1997 a; Tranier, 1975 a; Volobouev et al., 1988 b). Ecology and membership in small mammal community of coastal SW Mauritania documented by Granjon et al. (2002 b). Gerbillus nigeriae is regarded as one of the nine unambiguously identified species of gerbils occurring in the West African Sahelian zone (Granjon et al., 2002 a).

Order Rodentia - Family Muridae

distribution

Distribution: Recorded from Niger, N Nigeria, Burkina Faso, and SW Mauritania.

Order Rodentia - Family Muridae

discussion

COMMENTS: Lay (1983) maintained this species as valid even though it has been synonymized with G. agag by some workers. The sample from Burkina Faso was documented and karyotyped by Gautun et al. (1985).

Order Rodentia - Family Muridae

activity

Activity patterns. The Nigerian Gerbil is nocturnal and terrestrial. Burrows are simple and are built in surface layer during dispersal, but are deeper and more complex during pre-estivation and estivation.

Muridae