621.

Yemen Meadow Mouse

Myomyscus yemeni

French: Myomyscus du Yéemen / German: Jemen-Wiesenratte / Spanish: Raton de campina de Yemen

Other common names: Yemeni Mouse, Yemeni Myomyscus, Yemen White-footed Rat

Taxonomy. Myomys fumatus yemeni Sanborn & Hoogstraal, 1953,

6 miles [= 9-7 km] north-west of San’a, 6400 ft (= 1950 m), Kariet Wadi Dhahr, Yemen.

Myomyscus yemeni previously was grouped in the genus Myomys, but that genus was later shown to be a synonym of Mastomys . Myomyscus yemeni was previously included as a subspecies of M. brockmani but can be clearly distinguished morphologically based on its larger cranium and external size, ear and bulla size, and paler color. Monotypic.

Distribution. Narrow region of SW Saudi Arabia and NW Yemen.

Descriptive notes. Head—body 78-120 mm, tail 151-180 mm, ear 20-26 mm, hindfoot 23-28 mm. No specific data are available for body weight. The Yemen Meadow Mouse is slender. Fur is light brown above, becoming darker at midline, and clay-buff on flanks, pure white below, extending around mouth to include upper lips. Ears are strikingly large, bluntly rounded and dusky-gray. Limbs are white on inside and clay colored on outside. Tail is very long (c.150% of head-body length), light gray-brown above and pale buff below. Females have four pairs of nipples. Chromosomal complement is 2n = 36 and FNa = 36.

Habitat. Bushlands in the Yemen Mountains.

Food and Feeding. The Yemen Meadow Mouse mostly eats leaves and shoots but also seeds, buds, insects, spiders, Acomys rodents, and lizards. One stomach contained a green tree frog (Hyla savignyi).

Breeding. Breeding occurs year-round, except in August-September, and peaks in wet season. Pregnant females have a mean of five embryos.

Activity patterns. The Yemen Meadow Mouse is nocturnal and terrestrial.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Home ranges of Yemen Meadow Mice were 1375 m? for males and 1441 m? for females.

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

Bibliography. Al-Jumaily (1998), Al-Khalili et al. (1988), Harrison & Bates (1991), Sanborn & Hoogstraal {1953).