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Western Vlei Rat

Otomys occidentalis

French: Otomys occidental / German: Westliche Lamellenzahnratte / Spanish: Rata de laguna occidental

Taxonomy. Otomys occidentalis Dieterlen & Van der Straeten, 1992,

Chappal Waddi, Gotel Mountains, south-east Nigeria.

Closest relative of O. occidentalis might be O. burtoni, also from West Africa, implying single east-west radiation that gave rise to these species. Monotypic.

Distribution. Gotel Mts and Mt Oku of Nigeria and Cameroon.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 131-160 mm, tail 68-88 mm, ear 18-22 mm, hindfoot 24-29 mm; weight 69-88 g. The Western Vlei Rat is large and robust, with large blunt head, short tail, and shaggy fur. Fur is brown to blackish brown above, blackish gray, and silkier and glossier below. Females have twopairs of nipples. Upper and lower incisors each have single deep groove. M, has five laminae, and M? has eight or occasionally seven laminae.

Habitat. Alpine heath and grassland in forest clearings at elevations of 1900-3000 m.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. The Western Vlei Rat is presumably diurnal or crepuscular.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Vulnerable on The IUCN Red List. The Western Vlei Rat has a restricted distribution that is declining in area, extent, and quality of habitat.

Bibliography. Dieterlen & Van der Straeten (1992), Happold (2013a), Monadjem etal. (2015), Taylor et al. (2014).