495.

West-Central South African Four-striped Grass Rat

Rhabdomys bechuanae

French: Rhabdomys du Botswana / German: Betschuanaland-Vierstreifengrasmaus / Spanish: Rata de hierba de cuatro listas de Africa suroccidental

Other common names: West Central South African Rhabdomys

Taxonomy. Isomys p. bechuanae Thomas, 1893,

Rooibank, near Walvis Bay, Namib Desert, Namibia.

Rhabdomys bechuanae was recently split from R. pumilio on molecular grounds and occurs parapatrically with latter species and with R. chakae, R. dilectus, and R. intermedius . The species associated with drier habitats (R. bechuanae, R. intermedius, R. pumilio) have paler background coloration and relatively longer tail (c.100% of head-body length) than the

more mesic-habitat species ( R. dilectus, R. chakae, c.80% of head-body length). Monotypic.

Distribution. Drier W parts of SAfrica, including extreme SW Angola, Namibia, Botswana, and NW & C South Africa.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 107 mm, tail 95-120 mm, ear 11-15 mm, hindfoot 22— 27 mm; weight 32-55 g. The West-Central South African Four-striped Grass Rat is a small rodent with longitudinal black and cream stripes, similar morphologically to other species of Rhabdomys but background color paler. Fur is coarse, yellowish brown to speckled buff above, paler below. No mid-dorsal stripe, but twolateral cream-colored broad stripes, each bordered by two black stripes, extend from between ears to base oftail. Head is of same color as back, with black median stripe from between ears to between eyes. Nose, chin, throat, and abdomen are paler than above. Ears are densely covered with short reddish-brown hairs. Forefeet paler than dorsal fur, soles darkly pigmented. Tail is comparatively long (c.100% of head-body length), sparsely haired, bicolored, black above and yellowish brown or gray below. Females have 2+2 = 4 pairs ofnipples.

Habitat. Semiarid and arid habitats, with adequate cover ofbushes and shrubs, in the Succulent Karoo of South Africa and the Kalahari and Namib Deserts.

Food and Feeding. In the Succulent Karoo, West-Central South African Four-striped Grass Rats are solitary foragers that feed on leaves and fruits of shrubs (e.g. Zygophyllum retrofractum, Zygophyllaceae), wild flowers and succulents. In the Kalahari, they feed on pods of acacias and fruits of buffalo thorn ( Ziziphus mucronata, Rhamnaceae) and raisin bush ( Grewia, Malvaceae).

Breeding. In the Succulent Karoo, reproduction occurs during only three months (mid-August to mid-November) following winter rains. While litter size is variable (3— 10) in captive Rhabdomys, it can be reduced to as few as two offspring in Namib Desert and in Succulent Karoo following drought.

Activity patterns. West-Central South African Fourstriped Grass Rats are diurnal and crepuscular. They are terrestrial, but able to climb in shrubs to forage.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. In the Succulent Karoo, West-Central South African Four-striped Grass Rats live in communal groups comprising a breeding male, around four breeding females, and 5-28 non-breeding individuals. Home ranges ofindividuals within a group overlap considerably, and average home range size is 1305 m? for males and 912 m* for females.

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

Bibliography. Du Toit et al. (2012), Happold (2013a), Monadjem et al. (2015), Nel (1978), Rambau et al. (2003), Schradin & Pillay (2004, 2005a, 2005b), Smithers (1971).