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Darfur Gerbil

Gerbillus muriculus

French: Gerbille murine / German: DarfurRennmaus / Spanish: Gerbillo de Darfur

Other common names: Barfur Gerbil

Taxonomy. Dipodillus muriculus Thomas & Hinton, 1923,

“Madu, 80 miles [= 120 km] N.E. of El Fasher, [Sudan]. 2900’ [=884 m].”

When describing G. muriculus in 1923, O. Thomas and M. A. C. Hinton highlighted its peculiar morphological characteristics compared with the other Darfur gerbils. D. M. Lay in 1983 and I. Ya. Pavlinov and colleagues in 1990 considered it a valid species, as did G. G. Musser and M. D. Carleton in 2005. Its morphology was partly discussed by M. Tranier and D. Julien-Laferriére in 1990. Some morphological characters allow its distinction from G. nanus, as well as from G. henleyi, G. mauritaniae, G. nancillus, and G. principulus . Monotypic.

Distribution. Known only from type locality in N Darfur, Sudan.

Descriptive notes. Head—body 65 mm,tail 82 mm, ear 12 mm, hindfoot 18 mm (measurements of holotype, an old male, from original description). No specific data are available for body weight. The Darfur Gerbil is characterized by naked soles of hindfeet, small size and small tympanic bullae. It is very similar in pelage color to Principal Gerbil ( G. principulus). Tail is relatively short (126% of head-body length), the end with no pencil but only tiny hairs and scales apparent.

Habitat. The Darfur Gerbil was trapped at 884 m altitude in Sahelian type of savannas at edge of desert.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. The Darfur Gerbil is probably nocturnal and terrestrial.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Data Deficient on The [UCN Red Last.

Bibliography. Lay (1983), Musser & Carleton (2005), Pavlinov et al. (1990), Thomas & Hinton (1923a), Tranier & Julien-Laferriere (1990).