Otomys
| African vlei rats Temporal range: Late Pliocene - Recent | |
|---|---|
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| 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 | |
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26, see text | |
| Synonyms | |
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African vlei rats (Otomys), also known as groove-toothed rats, live in many areas of sub-Saharan Africa. Most species live in marshlands, grasslands, and similar habitats[2] and feed on the vegetation of such areas, occasionally supplementing it with roots and seeds. The name "vlei" refers to the South African term for intermittent, seasonal, or perennial bodies of standing water.
Otomys are compact rodents with a tendency to shorter faces and legs than other types of rats. The tails also are shorter than most Muridae, typically between one third and two thirds of the body length.[3] The coat colour varies according to species,[2] but generally they have the typical agouti brown-to-grey coats typical of mice and other small wild rodents. Species living in warm or temperate regions tend to have unusually large ears for murids (e.g. Otomys irroratus), whereas some of the alpine species, such as Otomys sloggetti have markedly smaller ears. (However, the latter species may no longer belong in the genus Otomys).
Depending on the species adult Otomys have a body length between 12 and 22 cm (5–9 inches) and weigh 90 to 260 grams (3–9 oz).
Species
[4] Genus Otomys - groove-toothed or vlei rats
- Angolan vlei rat, Otomys anchietae
- Angoni vlei rat, Otomys angoniensis
- Barbour's vlei rat, Otomys barbouri
- Burton's vlei rat, Otomys burtoni
- Otomys cheesmani[5]
- Cuanza vlei rat, Otomys cuanzensis
- Ruwenzori vlei rat, Otomys dartmouthi
- Dent's vlei rat, Otomys denti
- Dollman's vlei rat, Otomys dollmani
- Otomys fortior[5]
- Otomys helleri[5]
- Southern African vlei rat, Otomys irroratus
- Mount Elgon vlei rat, Otomys jacksoni
- Tanzanian vlei rat, Otomys lacustris
- Laminate vlei rat, Otomys laminatus
- Large vlei rat, Otomys maximus
- Western vlei rat, Otomys occidentalis
- Afroalpine vlei rat, Otomys orestes
- Saunder's vlei rat, Otomys saundersiae
- Otomys simiensis[5]
- Sloggett's vlei rat, Otomys sloggetti (or Myotomys sloggetti)
- Otomys thomasi[5]
- Tropical vlei rat, Otomys tropicalis
- Typical vlei rat, Otomys typus
- Bush vlei rat, Otomys unisulcatus (or Myotomys unisulcatus)
- Uzungwe vlei rat, Otomys uzungwensis
- Otomys yaldeni[5]
- Otomys zinki[5]
References
- ↑ "Genus Otomys", Mammal Species of the World, 3rd ed.
- 1 2 The Kingdon Pocket Guide to African Mammals, Jonathan Kingdon (2004) Russel Friedman Books ISBN 1-875091-14-9
- ↑ Mills, Gus and Hes, Lex (1997). The Complete Book of Southern African Mammals. Cape Town: Struik Publishers. ISBN 0947430555.
- ↑ "Otomys", Mammal Species of the World, 3rd ed.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 , 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.
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