92.

Algerian Gerbil

Gerbillus garamantis

French: Gerbille dAlgérie / German: Algerien-Rennmaus / Spanish: Gerbillo de Argelia

Taxonomy. Gerbillus garamantis Lataste, 1881,

Sidi Roueld, Ouargla, Algeria.

Although previously synonymized with G. manus on morphological grounds by many authors, including F. Petter in 1975, I. Ya. Pavlinov and colleagues in 1990, K. Kowalski and B. Rzebik-Kowalska in 1991, and M. B. Qumsiyeh in 1996, the karyotype of G. garamantis is distinct, which supports its species-level status according to R. Matthey in 1954, D. M. Lay in 1983, and G. G. Musser and M. D. Carleton in 2005. Some authors believe that its karyotype is not valid, but here G. garamantis is retained as a full species pending further molecular revision of the G. nanus complex and its very wide area of distribution. G. garamantis may also be related to G. amoenus . In original description in 1881, F. Lataste also pointed out its morphological similarity to G. campestris . Monotypic.

Distribution. Known only from type locality in EC Algeria.

Descriptive notes. Head—body 74-78 mm, tail 115 mm, ear 7-12 mm, hindfoot 22 mm. No specific data are available for body weight. The Algerian Gerbil is a rather small gerbil with naked soles. Dorsal pelage is reddish brown and ventral side white. Long tail (147-155% of head-body length) has sparse hairs and terminal pencil of brown hairs. Tympanic bullae are well developed and the species could be characterized by presence of eleven pairs of ribs only. Females bear four pairs of mammae. A karyotype of 2n = 54 has been mentioned from an unknown locality in Algeria.

Habitat. Arid zones of southern Algeria.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. The Algerian Gerbil is probably nocturnal and terrestrial, digging burrows.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Not assessed on The [UCN Red List as a separate species, but classified as Least Concern under G. nanus .

Bibliography. Aulagnier et al. (2009), Kowalski & Rzebik-Kowalska (1991), Lataste (1881b), Lay (1983), Lay et al. (1975), Matthey (1954), Musser & Carleton (2005), Pavlinov et al. (1990), Petter (1975a), Qumsiyeh (1996).