496.

KwaZulu Natal Four-striped Grass Rat

Rhabdomys chakae

French: Rhabdomys de Chaka / German: KwaZulu-Vierstreifengrasmaus / Spanish: Rata de hierba de cuatro listas de KwaZulu

Other common names: KwaZulu Natal Rhabdomys

Taxonomy. Arvicanthis pumilio chakae Wroughton, 1905,

Sibudeni, 1067 m, Nkandhla, Zululand, KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa .

Rhabdomys chakae was recently split from R. pumilioon molecular and chromosomal grounds;it is parapatric with latter species and with R. bechuanae, R. dilectus, and R. intermedius. Monotypic.

Distribution. Wetter E parts of South Africa, from the Soutpansberg S through

Swaziland and Lesotho to Eastern Cape Province.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 75-140 mm, tail 67-102 mm, ear 8-19 mm, hindfoot 18-25 mm; weight 14-70 g. The KwaZulu Natal Four-striped Grass Rat is a small rodent, with longitudinal black and cream stripes,is similar morphologically to other species of Rhabdomys . Furis coarse, yellowish brown to speckled buff above, paler below. It has no mid-dorsalstripe, but instead twolateral cream-colored broad stripes, each bordered by two black stripes, extending from between ears to base oftail. Head is of same color as back, with black median stripe from between ears to between eyes. Nose, chin, throat, and abdomen are paler than above. Ears are densely covered with short reddish-brown hairs. Forefeet are paler than dorsal fur, soles darkly pigmented. Tail is comparatively short (¢.80% of head-body length), sparsely haired, bicolored, black above and yellowish brown or gray below. Females have 2+2 = 4 pairs ofnipples. Karyotype 2n = 48.

Habitat. Primarily grasslands associated with the Great Escarpment of South Africa and its foothills.

Food and Feeding. Diet is primarily granivorous. In Eastern Cape, stomachs contained insects, seeds, fruits, leaves, and stems, insects predominating (83%) in mid-summer and fruits predominating (49%) in mid-winter. In KwaZulu-Natal Drakensberg, these grass rats were predominantly granivorous overall, but with foliage and insects increasing in importance in wet season. In Swaziland, stomachs contained mostly foliage, and to lesserextent seeds and insects. Particularly in winter, they are known to cause extensive damage by ring-barking young maritime pine trees ( Pinus pinaster, Pinaceae) in plantations.

Breeding. Reproduction is seasonal and occurs after summer rains. Litter size is 1-11 in KwaZulu-Natal Province. Gestation lasts 25 days.

Activity patterns. KwaZulu Natal Fourstriped Grass Rats are terrestrial, and diurnal and crepuscular.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. In mesic grassland habitats these grass rats are solitary and territorial. Home ranges of individuals in KwaZulu-Natal grasslands are 12,466 m? for males and 5760 m* for females, much larger than for individuals of the communal species.

Status and Conservation. Not assessed on The IUCN Red Lust.

Bibliography. Castiglia et al. (2012), Du Toit et al. (2012), Monadjem (1997a, 1997b),Monadjem et al. (2015), Rambau et al. (2003), Rowe-Rowe (1986), Rowe-Rowe & Meester (1982b), Schradin & Pillay (2005a, 2005b), Taylor (1998), Willan (1982).