466.

Selous’s Thicket Rat

Grammomys selousi

French: Grammomys de Selous / German: Selous-Akazienmaus / Spanish: Rata de matorral de Selous

Other common names: Selous's Grammomys

Taxonomy. Grammomys selousi Denys et al., 2011,

Kitchi Forest, NE Tanzania.

Grammomys selousi 1s distinguished from similar co-occurring congeners on chromosomal grounds; chromosomal complement has 2n = 49-50, FN = 56. Recent molecular study showed its genetic distance and revealed a high cryptic diversity in the genus. Monotypic.

Distribution. Known only from Kitchi Forest, EC Tanzania.

Descriptive notes. Measurements of type specimen given by C. Denys and colleagues in 2011 were as follows: Head—body 107 mm, tail 167 mm, ear 17-5 mm, hindfoot 23-5 mm. Fur of Selous’s Thicket Ratis yellow brown above, with creamy-white belly. Tail is very long (156% of head-body length), semi-prehensile, and tufted. Lacks a white post-auricular spot.

Habitat. Miombo ( Brachystegia, Fabaceae) woodland.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. Selous’s Thicket Rat is nocturnal and arboreal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red 1st.

Bibliography. Bryja et al. (2017), Denys et al. (2011).