502.

Shortridge’s Thallomys

Thallomys shortridgei

French: Thallomys de Shortridge / German: Shortridge-Akazienratte / Spanish: Rata de acacias de Shortridge

Other common names: Shortridge’s Rat

Taxonomy. Thallomys shortridgei Thomas & Hinton, 1923,

“Louisvale” on the S bank of the Gariep (= Orange) River, near Upington, Northern Cape Province, South Africa.

Thallomys shortridge: was originally described on basis of weak facial mask and small auditory bulla, but these characters are variable and the taxon not clearly distinguishable from 7. nigricauda . It has been treated within latter or as a subspecies of 1. paedulcus . Molecular and chromosomal data are required in order to resolve the matter, but very few specimens referable to this species have been collected. Monotypic.

Distribution. Known only from two localities (Goodhouse and Upington) on S bank of Orange River, South Africa.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 140-150 mm, tail 183-210 mm, ear 23-25 mm, hindfoot 27-28 mm. No specific data are available for body weight. Fur of Shortridge’s Thallomysis brown above, notso gray as incongeners. Feet white, with darker patches on metapodials. Tail is long (¢.107% of head-body length) and black. Females have 0+2 = 2 pairs of nipples.

Habitat. Acacia ( Acacia, Fabaceae) thornveld and scrub.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. Shortridge’s Thallomys is assumed to be nocturnal, and both terrestrial and scansorial (adapted for climbing).

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Data Deficient on The IUCN Red List.

Bibliography. Happold (2013a), Monadjem et al. (2015), Roberts (1951), Thomas & Hinton (1923b).