Tachyoryctes annectens Thomas 1891

Wilson, Don E. & Reeder, DeeAnn, 2005, Order Rodentia - Family Spalacidae, Mammal Species of the World: a Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3 rd Edition), Volume 2, Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, pp. 907-926 : 923

Tachyoryctes annectens Thomas 1891

Tachyoryctes annectens Thomas 1891 , Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., ser. 6, 7: 304.

Type Locality: SW Kenya, Mianzini, E of Lake Naivasha ( Hollister, 1919).

Vernacular Names: Mianzini African Mole Rat.

Distribution: Known only from vicinity of type locality.

Conservation: IUCN – Endangered.

Discussion: Hollister (1919) noted the distinctively large size of the holotype and commented that none of the large series (at USNM) from S and SW of Lake Naivasha, identified as the small-bodied T. naivashae , approached it. Apparently the type locality has never been fixed ("either Masai-land or inland British East Africa " were given in the original description), but assumed to be in the vicinity of Mianzini because other field specimens of mammals accompanying the holotype of annectens were labeled with this locality. Hollister mentioned that the only other Tachyoryctes of so large a body size is the Mt Kenyan endemic T. rex . Locating the geographic source of the holotype of T. annectens and ascertaining its relationship to T. rex warrant further inquiry.