Graphiurus monardi (St. Leger, 1936)
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publication ID |
https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.6604339 |
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DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6635102 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/9B215C43-FFC3-DD0B-CCBD-F7AAFCE1F783 |
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treatment provided by |
Carolina |
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scientific name |
Graphiurus monardi |
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10. View On
Monard’s African Dormouse
Graphiurus monardi View in CoL
French: Loir de Monard / German: Monard-Bilch / Spanish: Liron de Monard
Other common names: Monard’'s Dormouse
Taxonomy. Claviglis monardi St. Leger, 1936 ,
Kioko, 1250 m, 15 km above Dala, Tyihumbwe (Chiumbe) River, NE Angola.
Placed in the subgenus Graphiurus . In 1936, J. St. Leger described G. monardi as anew species based on its unique pelage, large size, large auditory bullae, and proportionally small cheekteeth. G. M. Allen later included G. monardi as a subspecies of G. nagtglasii in 1939, an arrangement endorsed by H. Genest-Villard in 1978.
Most researchers such as J. R. Ellerman and colleagues in 1953, W. F. H. Ansell in 1974 and 1989, L.. W. Robbins and D. A. Schlitter in 1981, M. E. Holden in 1993 and 2005 concluded that G. monardi exhibits distinctive cranial and pelage characteristics that allow straightforward identification, and that these characteristics do not indicate close affinity with G. nagtglasii . Monotypic.
Distribution. C Africa, in E Angola, SW DR Congo, and NW Zambia. View Figure
Descriptive notes. Head-body 160 mm (type specimen), tail 130 mm (type specimen), ear 15-16 mm, hindfoot 21-5-22 mm. No information regarding weight or sexual dimorphism reported. Dorsal pelage of Monard’s African Dormouse is medium ocher, brown, or reddish brown; texture is sleek and glossy. Fur is long, rump hairs are 11-13 mm, and guard hairs are up to 17 mm, with many conspicuous dark brown guard hairs projecting beyond fur, giving pelage unique, shaggy appearance (more noticeable in young individuals but is also evident in adults). Most individuals exhibit darkening of dorsal pelage toward midline of head and back due to coalescence of abundant dark guard hairs. Ventral pelage is predominantly cream or buff; ventral pelage hairs have slate-gray bases and are tipped in cream or white. Chin and chest of some individuals are dark chestnut; it has been suggested that color results from staining of fur by certain ingested food items such as earwigs, but that reddish color may be inherent because it appears on young Spectacled African Dormice (G. ocularis) prior to weaning. Head color matches that of dorsal pelage, although cheeks are paler. Sides of body appear paler, and dorsal pelage is clearly demarcated from ventral pelage. Most individuals have moderately noticeable eye mask of thin dark eye-rings and dark fur that extends from eyes to muzzle. Ears are brown, moderate in length, and rounded. Cream or ocher post-auricular patches are sometimes present. Hindfeet are cream or white and somewhat short, c.14% of head-body length, sometimes with inconspicuous dark metatarsal streak. Tail is moderately long, c.81% of head-body length based on measurements of very few specimens, but a live individual photographed by R. W. Hayman in 1963 appeared to have a much longer tail. Dorsal tail color generally matches that of dorsal pelage, except that many white hairs are mixed in; tail thus appears fringed in white or mottled; ventral surface oftail is paler. Tail tip is white. Hairs are shorter at base of tail, 6-9 mm, and longer at tip, up to 33 mm. Skull is robust, large, and vaulted rather than flattened, with highly inflated auditory bullae. Greatest length of skull is 32:5-36-6 mm, zygomatic breadth is 18-2-21-6 mm, and upper tooth row length is 3-6—4-3 mm. Cranial measurements listed are mean values from north-eastern Angola, south-western DR Congo, and north-western Zambia. Chromosome number is not known. Females have four pairs of nipples (I pectoral + I abdominal + 2 inguinal = 8).
Habitat. Intermingling of vegetation types in overlapping World Wildlife Fund ecoregions, including Angolan Miombo Woodlands, Central Zambezi Miombo Woodlands, and Southern Congolian Forest-Savanna Mosaic ecoregions at elevations of 975-1300 m. Scant habitat data are available from the few existing specimens, but most specimens have been captured from localities dominated by moist miombo ( Brachystegia , Fabaceae ) woodland. In Angola, one specimen was taken in typical Rhodesiantype savanna, deeply intersected by the numerous northward flowing rivers marked by long narrow strips of gallery forest. In 1936, St. Leger gave anecdotal information obtained from Dr A. Monard, collector of the type specimen, saying that this dormouse occurs in forest, cultivated fields, and houses.
Food and Feeding. There is no information available for this species.
Breeding. There is no information available for this species.
Activity patterns. There is no specific information available for this species, but Monard’s African Dormouse is probably nocturnal.
Movements, Home range and Social organization. Monard’s African Dormouse is probably predominantly arboreal. Little is known about the social behavior of this species.
Status and Conservation. Classified as Data Deficient on The IUCN Red List. This classification of Monard’s African Dormice is primarily due to uncertainty of its actual distribution, biology, and known threats. Populations of some large Angolan mammal species are thought to have been decimated during the war; effects on small mammal populations have not been documented. Current threats include poor security that hinders conservation and assessment efforts in Angola and DR Congo. In Angola, fuel shortages have resulted in clear-cutting of miombo woodlands for firewood and charcoal production; illegal strip mining is further degrading habitat in Lunda Sul Province.
Bibliography. Allen, G.M. (1939), Ansell (1960, 1974, 1989), Channing (1984), Dean (2000), Denyset al. (2006), Ellerman et al. (1953), Genest-Villard (1978), Hayman (1963), Holden (1993, 2005, 2013), Huntley & Matos (1992), Robbins & Schlitter (1981), Schlitter (2008b), St. Leger (1936).
No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.
