2.

Turkish Spiny Mouse

Acomys cilicicus

French: Acomys de Silifke / German: Turkei-Stachelmaus / Spanish: Raton espinoso de Turquia

Other common names: Cilician Spiny Mouse

Taxonomy. Acomys cilicicus Spitzenberger, 1978,

17 km E Silifke, Vil Mersin, Asiatic Turkey.

Acomys cilicicus is one of the most recently described species of Acomys, and one of four species not found in Africa. Before it was described, it was considered a subspecies of A. cahirinus or A. dimidiatus, or simply a member of the A. cahirnus-dimidatus complex. Chromosomal complement was described by M. Macholan and colleagues in 1995 as 2n = 36 and FNa = 66. This is similar to A. nesiotes from Cyprus (2n = 38, FN = 68) according to J. Zima and colleagues in 1999 and even close to A. cahirinus, suggesting a common origin. Phylogenetic analyses by P. O. Barome and colleagues in 2000 confirmed these close relationships. The same karyotype was found by E. Kivan¢ and colleagues in 1997 who described its unique morphology. A molecular study of many A. cahirinus — dimidiatus species complex representatives recovered a “ cahirinus sensu lato ” clade including A. minous, A. cilicicus, and A. nesiotes, and confirmed their common origin could have been via commensalism. A similar result was found by W. N. Verheyen and colleagues in 2011. Breeding experiments by D. Frynta andJ. Sadlova in 1998 produced fertile and viable offspring between A. cilicicus and A. cahirinus from Egypt but negative results from attempts to cross A. cilicicus with A. dimidiatus and A. minous . Because there is low genetic and chromosomal differentiation and a lack of reproductive isolation, B. Krystufek and V. Vorhalik in 2009 decided to include A. cilicicus and A. minous as subspecies of A. cahirinus . Nevertheless, these taxa cannot breedin nature because of disjunct distributions and show clear morphological differences, and pending more complete molecular analyses including higher nuclear and mitochondrial genetic analyses, A. cilicicus, A. minous, and A. nesiotes are considered separate species here. Monotypic.

Distribution. Known only from three localities close to Silifke extending c.15 km along the Mediterranean coast of Anatolia, S Turkey; N limits unknown.

Descriptive notes. Head—body 91-121 mm, tail 91-117 mm, ear 16-20 mm, hindfoot 16-20 mm; weight 29-63 g. The Turkish Spiny Mouse is characterized by smaller head-body length and hindfoot than other members of the cahirinus — dimidiatus species complex and by very delicate, narrow, small teeth rows. Dorsum is gray-brown to dark gray, with pale brown on flanks. It is larger than the Northeast African Spiny Mouse ( A. cahirinus) and smaller than the Arabian Spiny Mouse ( A. dimidiatus).

Habitat. Rocky habitats with low brushy vegetation of kermes oak ( Quercus coccifera, Fagaceae) and Rubus sp. (Rosaceae) and areas with thermophilic carob tree ( Ceratonia siliqua, Fabaceae); all records from c¢.10 m above sea level. Turkish Spiny Mice have been caught in houses.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. Gestation lasts 38-40 days, and litter size is 1-3 young (mean2). Two wildcaught females had two embryos each. Maturity is reached at 2-4 months of age.

Activity patterns. No information.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Data Deficient on The IUCN Red List. In its area of occurrence, the Turkish Spiny Mouse is the dominant animal, constituting c.73% of captures, but overall population is estimated at only 250 individuals. Its habitat has been partially destroyed by road construction and rapid urbanization.

Bibliography. Atallah (1978), Baréme et al. (2000), Corbet (1978), Frynta & Sadlova (1998), Frynta et al. (2010), Kivang, Mutly Eyison et al. (2013), Kivang, Sozen et al. (1997), Krystufek & Vohralik (2009), Lehmann (1966), Macholan et al. (1995), Morlok (1978), Spitzenberger (1978), Verheyen et al. (2011), Zima et al. (1999).