482.

East African Groove-toothed Swamp Rat

Pelomys fallax

French: Pélomys du Mozambique / German: Ostafrika-Furchenzahn-Bachratte / Spanish: Rata de ciénaga de dientes estriados de Africa oriental

Other common names: Creek Groove-toothed Swamp Rat, Creek Pelomys, East African Pelomys

Taxonomy. Mus (Pelomys) fallax Peters, 1852, near Zambezi River, Caya district, Mozambique.

Phylogenetic relationships of P. fallax with other members of genus Pelomys are uncertain; molecular study required. Monotypic.

Distribution. Widespread in SC parts of Africa from Albertine Rift, S Kenya, and E Tanzania W to Angola and S to Okavango Delta and S Mozambique.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 130-170 mm, tail 105-169 mm, ear 15-21 mm, hindfoot 27-36 mm; weight 100-170 g. This medium-sized rodent with grooved upper incisors has fur coarse, glossy, golden yellow to rusty brown above and on flanks, well demarcated from buff to yellowish (anterior) to dirty white (posterior) below. Indistinct black stripe extends from mid-back to base oftail. Nose may be rufous. Ears are covered with short rufous hairs. Forefeet have first digit very reduced and fifth digit reduced, with a claw; hindfeet have all digits clawed, second to fourth digits, first and fifth short. Tail is long (¢.90% of head-body length), bicolored, black above and whitish below. Females usually have 2+2 = 4 pairs of nipples. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 42, FNa = 56.

Habitat. Grassland savannas, swampy areas, secondary bush, forest edges, and cultivated fields with permanent year-round cover. In areas with a dry season, East African Groove-toothed Swamp Rats are confined to permanently damp habitats.

Food and Feeding. Diet comprises predominantly leaves and stems of grasses, with some crops (e.g. sorghum grains and bean pods), seeds, and insects.

Breeding. Breeding occurs throughout most of year in areas close to Equator (DR Congo), butis restricted to warmer wetter months. Litter size 2-7.

Activity patterns. East African Groove-toothed Swamp Rats are terrestrial, and both nocturnal and diurnal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. East African Groove-toothed Swamp Rats build nests of shredded grass either in burrows or in dense vegetation. Captive animals are docile and communal.

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

Bibliography. De Graaff (1981), Denys et al. (2011), Dieterlen (1967a, 1967c), Hanney (1965), Happold (2013a), Monadjem et al. (2015), Smithers (1983).