71.

Setzer’s Hairy-footed Gerbil

Gerbilliscus setzeri

French: Gerbille de Setzer / German: Setzer-Haarsohlenrennmaus / Spanish: Gerbillo de pies peludos de Setzer

Other common names: Namib Brush-tailed Gerbil

Taxonomy. Gerbillus (Gerbillurus) setzeri Schlitter, 1973,

“1 mi [= 1-6 km] E Namib Desert Research Station, Gobabeb [, Namibia,] South West Africa.”

Taxon setzeri was considered morphologically distinct by E. R. Dempster and colleagues in 1998. Its chromosomal make-up suggests that it isvery close to G. wvallinus, but molecular analyses by L. Granjon and coworkers in 2012 suggested that it belongs in a clade with G. paeba and G. tytonis. Various molecular studies have indicated the invalidity of genus Gerbillurus . Monotypic.

Distribution. Extreme SW Angola and NW Namibia .

Descriptive notes. Head-body 104-118 mm, tail 113-145 mm, ear 12-16 mm, hindfoot 30-35 mm; weight 30-43 g. Setzer’s Hairy-footed Gerbil, a small species, has pale sandy-brown dorsal pelage, pure white underside, and is characterized by rather long tail (120% of head-body length). Tail is bicolored and ends in well-developed pencil of gray hairs. Tympanic bullae are inflated and extend posteriorly. Females bear three pairs of mammae. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 60, FN = 76.

Habitat. Setzer’s Hairy-footed Gerbil occurs in the Namib Desert, inhabiting hot, dry gravel plains without vegetation; rarely trapped in sandy areas.

Food and Feeding. Setzer’s Hairy-footed Gerbil is omnivorous, and arthropodsas well as plants and seeds are found in its diet. It will cache food inside burrow.

Breeding. Reproduction may occur throughout the year. Gestation is 21 days and litter size 1s three. Young open eyes at day 18.

Activity patterns. Setzer’s Hairy-footed Gerbil is terrestrial and nocturnal. In soft soils it digs deep burrows (larger than 2 m deep) with many entrances and chambers.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Setzer’s Hairy-footed Gerbilis relatively tolerant toward conspecifics and in captivity develops less aggressiveness during encounters, which suggests semi-social lifestyle. Individuals communicate through foot-drumming with hindfeet and ultrasonic whistles.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List (as Gerbillurus setzeri). Setzer’s Hairy-footed Gerbil occurs in many protected areas and faces no special threats, although it has a rather small distribution.

Bibliography. Dempster et al. (1998), Granjon et al. (2012), Happold (2013a).