438.

Tete Rock Rat

Aethomys ineptus

French: Aethomys de Tete / German: Mosambik-Buschlandratte / Spanish: Rata de roca de Tete

Other common names: Tete Aethomys, Tete Veld Aethomys, Tete Veld Rat

Taxonomy. Mus chrysophilus ineptus Thomas & Wroughton, 1908,

Tette (= Tete), Zambezi River, Mozambique.

Aethomys ineptus was previously included in A. chrysophilus . Specific name ineptus is probably incorrect, as type locality is well outside known range of present species. Monotypic.

Distribution. Savannas in South Africa, extreme SE Botswana, Swaziland, and neighboring S Mozambique (apparently S of Limpopo River).

Descriptive notes. Head-body 140-155 mm, tail 144-170 mm, ear 18-22 mm, hindfoot 26-32 mm; weight 65-107 g. Males are on average larger than females, with considerable overlap in measurements between sexes. The Tete Rock Rat is a large rat with coarse fur reddish brown dorsally and white ventrally; dorsal and ventral coloration sharply delineated. Ears are medium-sized and brown. Tail is very long (115-120% of head-body length) and coarsely scaled with fine hairs. Limbs are relatively short, and foreand hindfeet dorsally white or off-white, with four digits on forefoot and five on hindfoot. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 44.

Habitat. Tete Rock Rats occur in savanna woodland similar to that occupied by the Red Rock Rat ( A. chrysophilus), and prefer rocky areas with dense ground cover.

Food and Feeding. Tete Rock Rats are omnivorous, eating vegetation (37-58%), seeds (33-58%), and insects (0-8%).

Breeding. Reproduction is seasonal and restricted to wet summer months, although follicular development and presence of corpora lutea in females have been reported outside breeding season. Gonadal development in males is stimulated artificially by extending of daylength.

Activity patterns. Tete Rock Rats are nocturnal and terrestrial.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Home range covers 1500-3000 m®. Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The [UCN Red Lust.

Bibliography. Chimimba & Linzey (2008), Happold (2013a), Kern (1981), Linzey et al. (2003), Miller (1994), Monadjem et al. (2015), Muteka et al. (2006a, 2006b, 2006c¢).