543.

Toad Mouse

Mus bufo

French: Souris crapaud / German: Krétenzwergmaus / Spanish: Raton sapo

Other common names: Rwenzori Mouse

Taxonomy. [ Leggada bufo Thomas, 1906, Rwenzori East, 6000 ft (1830 m), Uganda.

On the basis of molecular studies published in 2014 J. M. Lamb and colleagues showed this taxon to be distinctive; while J. Bryja and colleagues situated it in the M. setulosus species group. Monotypic.

Distribution. Until recently thought to be endemic to the Albertine Rift (E DR Congo, SW Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi), at elevations of up to 2960 m in the Rwenzori Mts, but = onasequences, Bryja and colleagues in 2014 suggested that it occurs also in Central African Republic, N DR Congo, and W Kenya.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 69-77 mm, tail 60-66 mm, ear 10-12 mm, hindfoot 16-18 mm. No specific data are available for body weight. Very small mouse with short tail. Fur is thick and stiff, dark coppery brown above, darker on rump and buff to grayish buff below, sometimes delineated from above by yellow line. Tail is relatively long (c.97% of head-body length), blackish above and whitish below, with short fine hairs. Ears dark with short buffy hairs and no postauricular white spot. Upper surface of forefeet and hindfeet brown with buff tinge. Females have 4 pairs of nipples. Chromosomal complement is 2n = 36, FN = 36.

Habitat. Wide range of montane vegetation types including grassland, low and high montane forest, bamboo forest, shrubby heathland, and cultivated areas.

Food and Feeding. The Toad Mouse is herbivorous or omnivorous. Most stomachs typically contain remains of seeds and tubers, while some also contain chitinous insect remains.

Breeding. Sparse data indicate breeding across different seasons. Based on just two pregnant females, embryo number is 3-4.

Activity patterns. Toad Mice are mainly nocturnal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List.

Bibliography. Bryja, Mikula, Sumbera et al. (2014), Delany (1975), Happold (2013a), Kerbis Peterhans et al. (1998), Lamb et al. (2014), Maddalena et al. (1989), Misonne (1963), Monadjem etal. (2015).