108.

Lowe’s Gerbil

Gerbillus lowei

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

Other common names: Lowe's Dipodil

Taxonomy. Dipodillus lowei Thomas & Hinton, 1923,

Jebel Mara, Sudan.

Gerbillus lower was described as a dark-colored mountain form of G. campestris species group, and F. Petter in 1975 and I. Ya. Pavlinov and colleagues in 1990 synonymized it with the latter species. D. M. Lay in 1983, G. G. Musser and M. D. Carleton in 2005, D. C. D. Happold in 2013, and A. Monadjem and colleagues in 2015 kept the species as valid pending further study. Because of geographicalisolation ofJebel Marra and absence of lowland gerbils captured at lower altitude on this mount, G. lowei is here retained as valid species, despite lack of genetic data. Monotypic.

Distribution. Known only from a few localities in Jebel Marra, W Sudan.

Descriptive notes. Head—body 89-113 mm, tail 141-158 mm, ear 14-16 mm, hindfoot 25-27 mm; weight 32-40 g. Lowe’s Gerbil is small and long-haired, with naked soles of hindfeet, and is characterized by dark brown dorsal pelage, pure white ventral pelage, and very long tail (140% of head-body length); last third oftail consists of conspicuous pencil of long dark hairs. Chin and throat are white, and there are postorbital and post-auricular white spots.

Habitat. Lowe’s Gerbil lives under pumice rocks covered by dense grasses and walls surrounding gardens. The species has been found above 2300 m elevation.

Food and Feeding. L.owe’s Gerbil is reported to feed on seeds of grasses and flowers,as well as Loranthus (Loranthaceae) seeds.

Breeding. Breeding is probably seasonal, with young born during and after rainy season (July-September).

Activity patterns. Lowe’s Gerbil is strictly nocturnal and terrestrial. It rests by day in crevices and under rocks.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Lowe’s Gerbil has a patchy distribution and may be locally abundant.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Data Deficient on The IUCN Red List pending further revision of the whole Gerbillus genus.

Bibliography. Happold (1966b, 2013a), Lay (1983), Monadjem et al. (2015), Musser & Carleton (2005), Pavlinov et al. (1990), Petter (1975a), Setzer (1956).