Otomys

African vlei rats
Temporal range: Late Pliocene - Recent
Otomys irroratus, the Southern African Vlei rat, a large specimen grazing on clover.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Muridae
Subfamily: Murinae
Tribe: Otomyini
Genus: Otomys
F. Cuvier, 1824
Species

26, see text
Synonyms
  • Anchotomys Thomas, 1918[1]
  • Euryotis Brants, 1827
  • Lamotomys Thomas, 1918
  • Oreinomys Trouessart, 1880
  • Oreomys Heuglin, 1877
  • Palaeotomys Broom, 1937
  • Prototomys Broom, 1948
For the indigenous ethnic group in Mexico, see Otomies.

African vlei rats (Otomys), also known as groove-toothed rats, live in many areas of sub-Saharan Africa. They live in marshlands and grasslands, and eat the green grass and herbs that grow there, occasionally supplementing this with roots and seeds. They are named after "vlei", the local term for intermittent lakes.

They have shorter legs and tails than other types of rats, and can be various colours.[2]

African vlei rats are compact rats with short faces, short legs and a short tail. They eat grasses, seeds, roots, leaves and other similar food. Adults are between 12 and 22 cm (5–9 inches) long between head and tail, and the young are between 8 and 12 cm (3–5 inches). They weigh 90 to 260 grams (3–9 oz). Most species live in grasslands, savannas, swamps, and similar habitats.[2]

Species

[3] Genus Otomys - groove-toothed or vlei rats

References

  1. ^ Genus Otomys, Mammal Species of the World, 3rd ed.
  2. ^ a b The Kingdon Pocket Guide to African Mammals, Jonathan Kingdon (2004) Russel Friedman Books ISBN 1-875091-14-9
  3. ^ Otomys, Mammal Species of the World, 3rd ed.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g [1], Specific limits and emerging diversity patterns in East African populations of laminate-toothed rats, genus Otomys (Muridae: Murinae: Otomyini): Revision of the Otomys typus complex.