78.

Senegal Tateril

Taterillus pygargus

French: Gerbille de Cuvier / German: Senegal-Taterillus / Spanish: Gerbillo de Senegal

Other common names: Cuvier’s Tateril, Senegal Gerbil

Taxonomy. Gerbillus pygargus F. Cuvier, 1838,

“vient de la haute Egypte [= comes from upper Egypt].” Restricted by C. B. Robbins in 1977 to probably Saint Louis, Senegal.

Initially included within Gerbillus pyramidum, pygargus was recognized as a Taterillus by F. Petter and colleagues in 1972, while D. M. Lay in 1983 still listed it among Gerbillus species. Cytogenetic works, such as those by R. Matthey and M. Jotterand in 1972 and V. T. Volobouev and L. Granjon in 1996, allow us to confirm validity of the species. Monotypic.

Distribution. Disjunct in Senegal and SW Niger; it may also occur in extreme S Mauritania.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 102-134 mm, tail 128-165 mm, ear 17-22 mm, hindfoot 28-31-5 mm; weight 31-68 g. Sexual dimorphism present, with male larger. The Senegal Tateril is a small gerbil with yellowto red-brown dorsal pelage and white venter. Some white patches are visible on cheeks and around eyes. Soles of hindfeet are naked and dark. Long hairy tail (130-140% of head-body length) has long terminal pencil of black hairs. Females bear four pairs of mammae. Karyotype 2n = 22/23.

Habitat. Bush savanna and thorny scrub of Sahelo-Sudanian savannas. Captured in sand dunes, soft silty soils where guineafowl ( Guttera, Numididae) and Acacia albida ( Fabaceae) are common, or in grasslands. It may be found in cultivated areas.

Food and Feeding. Senegal Taterils are granivorous and insectivorous.

Breeding. Reproduction occurs during wet season and lasts 2-8 months, depending on amount of rainfall. Gestation period is 26 days and littersize 4-6. Young are weaned at 20-21 days and reach sexual maturity at twelve weeks.

Activity patterns. Senegal Taterils are terrestrial and nocturnal. Burrows are relatively simple, with several entrances, and situated 35 cm or more below soil surface.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Home ranges of females do not overlap. Home range measured 400-700 m? for females, but up to 1500 m? for males.

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

Bibliography. Granjon & Duplantier (2009), Happold (2013a), Lay (1983), Matthey & Jotterand (1972), Petter et al. (1972), Robbins (1977), Volobouev & Granjon (1996).