Fukomys amatus (Wroughton, 1907)
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publication ID |
https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.6584692 |
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DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6584534 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/038F4B5A-FFA0-FFD7-AD23-F873BB62CE52 |
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treatment provided by |
Carolina |
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scientific name |
Fukomys amatus |
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10. View Plate 22: Bathyergidae
Zambian Mole-rat
French: Bathyergue de Zambie / German: Sambia-Graumull / Spanish: Rata topo de Zambia
Taxonomy. Georychus amatus Wroughton, 1907 ,
“Road to Chiwali’s, Alala Plateau .. Alt. 4000 [feet],” Zambia .
Previously, F. amatus was placed as a subspecies of Cryptomys hottentotus . Nevertheless, current molecular and chromosomal data placeit as a distinct species in the genus Fukomys. Monotypic.
Distribution. C Zambia and SE DR Congo. View Figure
Descriptive notes. Head-body 105 mm (type specimen), tail 10 mm (type); weight 73-2 g (52-71 g). The Zambian Mole-rat is dark gray to brown; white areas sometimes occur on ventral side and head. It has a cylindrical body and short legs and tail. Chromosomal complement is 2n = 50, FN = 92 or 96.
Habitat. Mesic areas with mean minimum annual rainfall of 889-6 mm.
Food and Feeding. The Zambian Mole-rat is herbivorous.
Breeding. Breeding of the Zambian Mole-rat is aseasonal. Gestation is 90-100 days, and littersize is two young (range 1-2).
Activity patterns. There is no information available for this species.
Movements, Home range and Social organization. The Zambian Mole-rat is colonial, with maximum colony size often.
Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List (under Cryptomys hottentotus ). Conservation status of the Zambian Mole-rat is largely unknown because of lack of data on population status and ecology.
Bibliography. Bennett & Faulkes (2000), Faulkes, Bennett et al. (1997), Macholén et al. (1998).
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.