447.

Middle Shaggy Rat

Dasymys medius

French: Dasymys intermédiaire / German: Mittlere Wollhaarratte / Spanish: Rata peluda de altitud media

Other common names: East African Altitude Shaggy Rat, Middle Dasymys

Taxonomy. Dasymys medius Thomas, 1906,

Toro, Mubuku Valley, E. Rwenzori, Uganda.

Dasymys medius, previously considered to be part of D. incomtus, was elevated to species rank on basis of molecular and morphological data, although genetic distances (from cytochrome-b gene sequences) between it and D. sua and D. rwandae are less than 2%. Monotypic.

Distribution. Mountains of Albertine Rift and East African Rift, at elevations of up to 2600 m.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 150 mm, tail 134 mm, ear 20 mm, hindfoot 30 mm; weight 107 g. Like all Dasymys, the Middle ShaggyRat has fur that is soft, shaggy, and long-haired, and is reddish brown dorsally and dull gray ventrally. Head is broad, with short muzzle, the vibrissae long, and ears rounded and well furred on inside. Tail is ¢.10% shorter than head-body length, heavily scaled, sparsely haired, and darker above than below.

Habitat. Swampy areas in wetlands.

Food and Feeding. The Middle Shaggy Rat is presumably herbivorous.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. Middle ShaggyRats are nocturnal and diurnal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Not assessed on The [UCN Red List.

Bibliography. Kerbis Peterhans et al. (1998), Monadjem et al. (2015), Mullin, Pillay & Taylor (2004, 2005),Mullin, Taylor & Pillay (2004).