117.

Khartoum Gerbil

Gerbillus stigmonyx

French: Gerbille de Khartoum / German: Khartum-Rennmaus / Spanish: Gerbillo de Jartin

Other common names: Khartoum Dipodil

Taxonomy. Dipodillus stigmonyx Heuglin, 1877,

Khartoum, Sudan.

Gerbillus stigmonyx was earlier placed in Dipodillus, which was declared invalid by A. Abiadh and colleagues in 2010. F. Petter in 1975 synonymized it with G. campestris, while D. M. Lay in 1983 resurrected it pending further revision. Latter opinion was followed in 2013 by D. C. D. Happold, who indicated similarities between G. stigmonyx, G. watersi, and G. bottai . A. Monad-Jem and colleagues in 2015 agreed in part, and found G. bottai distinct owing to presence of some hair on soles. No genetic data are yet available. Monotypic.

Distribution. Few localities along White Nile from Khartoum to El Kowa, C Sudan.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 86-95 mm, tail 97-106 mm, ear 8-13 mm, hindfoot 20-23 mm. No specific data are available for body weight. The Khartoum Gerbil is a small gerbil with naked soles of hindfeet, sandy-orange dorsal pelage, and pure white belly, cheeks, chin, throat, limbs, and feet. Tail is moderately long (115% of headbody length), unicolored, and terminates in pencil of long dark hairs. Tympanic bullae length represents 34% of maximum length of skull.

Habitat. Savanna environment, areas of rocky plains, and open grassland on consolidated sands.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. The Khartoum Gerbil is probably nocturnal and terrestrial, digging burrows.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Data Deficient on The IUCN Red List because of controversial taxonomic status and general lack of knowledge. The Khartoum Gerbil is apparently rare.

Bibliography. Abiadh, Chétoui et al. (2010), Happold (2013a), Lay (1983), Monadjem et al. (2015), Petter (1975a).