98.

James's Gerbil

Gerbillus jamesi

French: Gerbille de James / German: James-Rennmaus / Spanish: Gerbillo de James

Other common names: James's Dipodil

Taxonomy. Gerbillus jamesi Harrison, 1967,

between Bou Ficha and Enfidaville, Tunisia.

Taxonomic rank of G. jamesi, a representative of subgenus Dipodillus, is controversial. G. jamesi was considered a synonym of G. campestris by G. B. Corbet in 1978, S. Aulagnier and colleagues in 2009, and D. C. D. Happold in 2013, with no support ing arguments for such treatment. On other hand, D. M. Lay in 1983, F. Petter in 1975, and G. G.Musser and M. D. Carleton in 2005 considered it a valid species pending further research, an opinion followed here. Monotypic.

Distribution. Known only from type locality in E Tunisia.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 79 mm, tail 105 mm, ear 14-8 mm, hindfoot 23-6 mm. No specific data are available for body weight. James’s Gerbil is small, with naked soles, and fine and soft pelage. Dorsum is uniformly dark reddish sandy with some gray hairs, flanks are lighter, and venter as well as forearms and lower cheeks pure white. White post-auricular spots are present but no supraorbital ones. Tail is long (133% of head— body length) unicolored except for paler base, and has distinct terminal gray pencil 10 mm in length. Small skull has very short rostral region, and small tympanic bullae not much inflated and not projecting backwards (31% of maximum length of skull).

Habitat. Warm, semiarid climatic zone with savanna and agricultural land.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. James’s 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, pending an improvement in knowledge of its taxonomy and ecology.

Bibliography. Aulagnier et al. (2009), Corbet (1978), Happold (2013a), Harrison (1967), Lay (1983), Musser & Carleton (2005), Petter (1975a).