Gray-headed Grammomys

discussion

COMMENTS: Karyotype of Kenyan sample described and discussed by Hutterer and Dieterlen (1984), and chromosomal variation among individuals from S Somalia described and discussed in detail by Roche et al. (1984) who assigned their sample to the dolichurus group, but who also, and independant of Hutterer and Dieterlen (1984), noted the distinctive quality of the Somalian species as indicated by chromosomal evidence.

Order Rodentia - Family Muridae

biology_ecology

Habitat. Probably dry coastal savanna including acacia trees (Acacia, Fabaceae). Food and Feeding. In captivity, Gray-headed Thicket Rats fed on seeds, fruit, and insect larvae. Breeding. No information. Activity patterns. Gray-headed Thicket RatS are presumed to be nocturnal and arboreal. They are known to build bowl-like nests in acacia trees. Movements, Home range and Social organization. Captive-bred individuals were tolerant toward each other and lived in groups of 5 - 10 in one cage.

Muridae

conservation

Status and Conservation. Classified as Data Deficient on The IUCN Red Lust.

Muridae

description

Descriptive notes. Head-body 86 - 105 mm, tail 147 - 155 mm, ear 14 - 17 mm, hindfoot 19 - 22 mm; weight 18 - 40 g. Fur of the Gray-headed Thicket Rat is grayish brown with scattered black hairs above, with bright cinnamon rump, and sharply demarcated pure white belly. Tail is very long (150 % of head-body length) and semi-pre-hensile, with short dark brown bristles, and with terminal tuft of white hairs. Ears are large and covered with short brown hairs, and a white post-auricular spot extends onto back of head. Feet are white, with four digits on forefoot and five on relatively short hindfoot, the fifth digit longer and semi-opposable. Females have either 2 + 1 = 3 pairs or 1 + 1 = 2 pairs of nipples. Chromosomal complement has 2 n = 54 - 61 and FN = 78.

Muridae