Tranieri's Tateril

discussion

Discussion: Karyotype (2 n = 14 / 15, FNa = 22 - 24) exhibits the lowest diploid number among gerbillines and differs from its chromosomally closest ally, T. petteri (2 n = 18 / 19, FNa = 28), by " two telomere-telomere translocations accompanied by two centromere activations / inactivations, one non-reciprocal translocation, and three pericentric inversion " (Dobigny et al., 2003: 309). No consistent qualitative differences in external and cranial morphological or pelage coloration could be dectected between T. tranieri and four other West African species: T. arenarius, T. gracilis, T. petteri, and T. pygargus.

Order Rodentia - Family Muridae

distribution

Distribution: Recorded from Sahelian savanna of W Mali and SE Mauritania (see Dobigny et al., 2003, for locality coordinates and habitat).

Order Rodentia - Family Muridae

materials_examined

Type Locality: W Mali, Dilly (15 E 01 ' 129 ' ’ N, 07 E 40 ' 084 ' ’ W); see Dobigny et al. (2003) for details.

Order Rodentia - Family Muridae

biology_ecology

Habitat. Inhabits sandy clay soils in cultivated and degraded savanna environments with thorny bushes and grasslands. Food and Feeding. Diet includes seeds, green parts of plants, and insects in variable proportions. Breeding. No information. Activity patterns. Tranier’sTateril is terrestrial and probably nocturnal. Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Muridae