Otomys yaldeni, P. J. Taylor, 2011
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publication ID |
https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.6887260 |
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DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6868598 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/1E30E275-34AB-FF1A-E185-2FD275D78A57 |
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treatment provided by |
Carolina |
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scientific name |
Otomys yaldeni |
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385. View On
Yalden’s Vlei Rat
French: Otomys de Yalden / German: Yalden-Lamellenzahnratte / Spanish: Rata de laguna de Yalden
Taxonomy. Otomys yaldeni P. J. Taylor et al., 2011 View in CoL ,
vicinity of Dinsho, Bale Mountains, 3170 m, Ethiopia.
Until recently, O. yaldeni was included in O. typus but shown to be a distinct species based on its smaller size and chromosomal and genetic characteristics. It co-occurs with O. helleri in Bale Mountains, but they can be distinguished chromosomally, genetically, and morphologically. Monotypic.
Distribution. Bale Mts, SC Ethiopia. View Figure
Descriptive notes. Head-body 125-155 mm, tail 70-73 mm, ear 18-20 mm, hindfoot 22-25 mm. No specific data are available for body weight. Yalden’s Vlei Rat is mediumsized and robust, with large blunt head, short tail, and shaggy fur;it the second smallest species of Otomys . Fur is drab brown above, with “double-layered” effect (due to interspersed longer black bristles among shorter guard hairs), and pale gray below. Ears are blackish, with inner surface covered with short rufous hair. Forefeet and hindfeet are dark gray above, and claws are gray. Tail is relatively short (49-9% of head-body length) and bicolored. Upper incisors have single groove, and lower incisors have two deep grooves. M| has four laminae, and M? has 6-7 laminae. Chromosomal complement is 2n = 56 and FN = 56, FNa = 54.
Habitat. Mosaic of forest and grassland habitats at elevations of 2650-3800 m.Holotype and paratypes ofYalden’s Vlei Rat were collected in Afro-montane forest, bamboo patches, moorland, and open woodland.
Food and Feeding. Yalden’s Vlei Rat is presumably strictly herbivorous.
Breeding. No information.
Activity patterns. Yalden’s Vlei Rat is presumably diurnal or crepuscular.
Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.
Status and Conservation. Not yet assessed on The [UCN Red List.
Bibliography. Lavrenchenko et al. (1997), Monadjem et al. (2015), Taylor et al. (2011), Yalden, Largen & Kock (1976), Yalden, Largen, Kock & Hillman (1996).
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.
