380.

Cheesman’s Vlei Rat

Otomys cheesmani

French: Otomys de Cheesman / German: Cheesman-Lamellenzahnratte / Spanish: Rata de laguna de Cheesman

Taxonomy. Otomys cheesmani P. J. Taylor et al., 2011,

vicinity of Dangila, 66 km S Lake Tana, 2100 m, Ethiopia .

Otomys cheesmani previously was included in O.typusbut shown to be a distinct species based on morphological and molecular grounds. Monotypic. Distribution. Restricted to two known localities in NW Ethiopia, S ofLake Tana. Descriptive notes. Head-body 165-210 mm, tail 77-106 mm, ear 22-24 mm, hindfoot 28-31 mm. No specific data are available for body weight. Cheesman’s Vlei Rat has shaggy dark pelage and is larger than all other species of Otomys, except the Angolan Vlei Rat ( O. anchietae). Fur of Cheesman’s Vlei Rat is bright brown, with reddish shade above and pale yellowish gray below. Ears are blackish, and inner surfaces are covered with short rufous hairs. Forefeet and hindfeet are dark gray above. Tail is relatively short (49-3% of head-body length), blackish above and pale yellowish below but notappearing distinctly bicolored. Lower incisors with two deep grooves. M, has four laminae, and M” has eight or nine laminae.

Habitat. Type locality currently agricultural habitat and second specimen collected in low acacia ( Acacia, Fabaceae) scrub at elevations of 2100-2500 m.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. Cheesman’s Vlei Rat is presumably diurnal or crepuscular.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Not yet assessed on The IUCN Red List.

Bibliography. Monadjem et al. (2015), Taylor et al. (2011).