394.

Thomas's Vlei Rat

Otomys thomasi

French: Otomys de Thomas / German: Thomas-Lamellenzahnratte / Spanish: Rata de laguna de Thomas

Taxonomy. Otomys thomasi Osgood, 1910,

Molo, Kenya.

Otomys thomas: has been included in O. orestes but is now considered a distinct species based on its large size, distinctly pale color, and lack of diagnostic pale postaural tufts of O. orestes . Genetic data are required for a definitive review ofits taxonomic status. Monotypic.

Distribution. Mau Escarpment and Uasin Gishu Plateau on W rim of Rift Valley, WC Kenya.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 162- 182 mm, tail 84-93 mm, ear 20-22 mm, hindfoot 30-31 mm. No specific data are available for body weight. Thomas's Vlei Rat is very large and robust rodent, with large blunt head, short tail, and shaggy fur. Fur is pale speckled buffy above and gray below, it lacks pale post-aural tufts found in the Afroalpine Vlei Rat ( O. orestes). Tail is short (c.52% of head-body length) and bicolored. Upperincisors each have single groove, and lower incisors have deep lateral and shallow medial groove. M| has four laminae, and M” has seven or occasionally six laminae.

Habitat. Moist grasslands and wetlands at elevations of 2450-2700 m.

Food and Feeding. Thomas's Vlei Rat is presumablystrictly herbivorous.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. Thomas’s Vlei Ratis presumably diurnal or crepuscular.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

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

Bibliography. Bohmann (1952), Dollman (1915), Monadjem et al. (2015), Osgood (1910b), Taylor et al. (2011).