414.

Abyssinian Grass Rat

Arvicanthis abyssinicus

French: Rat-roussard d/Abyssinie / German: Athiopien-Grasratte / Spanish: Rata de hierba de Abisinia

Other common names: Ethiopian Arvicanthis, Ethiopian Grass Rat

Taxonomy. Mus abyssinicus Ruppell, 1842,

Entschetqab, Simien Mountains, Simien Province, Ethiopia.

Arvicanthis abyssinicus was previously listed as a synonym of A. niloticus . It exhibits considerable geographic variation in pelage color and size, and is best diagnosed on basis of chromosomal complement: 2n = 62, FN = 74-76. Monotypic.

Distribution. Ethiopian highlandson both sides of Rift Valley.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 125-150 mm, tail 98-109 mm, ear 13-17 mm, hindfoot 28-32 mm; weight 72-125 g. Medium-sized rat with quite coarse fur and dark brownish black, heavily speckled with cream streaks dorsally and especially on flanks, with a bold mid-ventral black stripe and grayish-brown ventral color. Ears medium-sized, rounded, and brownish to reddish. Tail is relatively short (¢.80% of head-body length), darker above than below, and coarsely scaled with small bristles. Limbs relatively short, and foreand hindfeet reddish brown above and almost naked below, with four digits on forefoot (first digit is absent;fifth digit is highly reduced butstill bears a claw) and five digits on hindfoot.

Habitat. Montane grasslands at 2000-3400 m. May occupy crop fields.

Food and Feeding. Abyssinian Grass Rats are presumably herbivorous.

Breeding. Reproduction occurs in the first half of dryseason, from October to November. Average litter size is 5-6 (range 3-9). Neonates have average weight of 4 g.

Activity patterns. Abyssinian Grass Rats are diurnal and terrestrial.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. The Abyssinian Grass Ratis possibly gregarious, living communally in nests. Home range varies from 1400 m* (dry season) to 2750 m? (wet season) for males, and 600 m? (dry season) to 950 m? (wet season) for females.

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

Bibliography. Bekele et al. (1993), Happold (2013a), Monadjem et al. (2015), Muller (1977), Volobouev, Ducroz et al. (2002).