493.

Grant's Rock Rat

Micaelamys granti

French: Rat de Grant / German: Grant-Buschlandratte / Spanish: Rata de roca de Grant

Other common names: Grant's Aethomys, Grant's Micaelamys, Grant's Rock Mouse

Taxonomy. Mus granti Wroughton, 1908,

Deelfontein, N of Richmond, NE Western Cape Province, South Africa.

Genus Micaelamys was previously included in Aethomys, but chromosomal, morphological, and molecular data support its recognition as a distinct genus. Monotypic.

Distribution. South Africa, where it is restricted to parts of the Northern, Western and Eastern Cape provinces.

Descriptive notes. Head—body 93-125 mm,

tail 96-138 mm, ear 16-20 mm, hindfoot 22-26 mm; weight 19-65 g. Fur of Grant's Rock Ratis dull yellowish brown or dark brown above, and pale gray or yellowish gray below. Tail is long (c.97-113% of head-body length), brownish black or dark reddish brown, and well haired with dark hairs that are longer attip of tail. Female has 3+2 = 5 pairs of nipples. Karyotype 2n = 32.

Habitat. Rocky areas in fynbos, Succulent Karoo and Nama-Karoo biomes.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. No information.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List (as Aethomys grantu).

Bibliography. Baker et al. (1988), Chimimba (1998, 2005), Chimimba et al. (1999), Ducroz et al. (2001), Happold (2013a), Lecompte et al. (2008), Monadjem et al. (2015), Musser & Carleton (2005), Russo (2003), Visser & Robinson (1986).