10.

Chudeau’s Spiny Mouse

Acomys chudeaui

French: Acomys de Chudeau / German: Chudeau-Stachelmaus / Spanish: Ratén espinoso de Chudeau

Taxonomy. Acomys chudeaui Kollman, 1911,

SW Biskra, Atar, Mauritania .

Acomys chudeawi was considered a synonym of A. cahirinus and rehabilitated according to cytogenetic and molecular analyses. T. Benazzou in 1983 found 2n = 40 for A. chudeaui vs. 2n = 36 for A. cahirinus, a distinction later confirmed by cytogenetic studies. Some morphological differences also allowed recognition of A. chudeawi as separate from A. cahirinus and also distinct from A. sewrati and A. airensis, both found in montane regions of southern Sahara. Molecular studies found A. chudeawi to be a member of the A. cahirmus— dimidiatus species complex, and V. Nicolas and colleagues in 2009 synonymized A. airensis and A. chudeaui, the senior taxon. Recorded karyotypes are 2n = 40-46 in Mali, 2n = 40 in Mauritania, and 2n = 41-43 and 46 in Niger. Monotypic.

Distribution. N & W Africa, N of the Niger River.

Descriptive notes. Head—body 93-120 mm, tail 72-125 mm, ear 15-19 mm, hindfoot 15-20 mm; weight 25-64 g. Dorsum of Chudeau’s Spiny Mouseis gray, with red-orange glint; spiny hairs are more abundant on rump; and belly is pure white. Tail is ¢.90% of head-body length and naked. Skin is fragile, and tail skin can be removed easily (autotomy), as inother species of Acomys . Females have four pairs of mammae.

Habitat. Rocky areas. Chudeau’s Spiny Mice have been found as a commensal in cultivated zones, grain storages, and houses.

Food and Feeding. Captive Chudeau’s Spiny Mice eat meat.

Breeding. In Mauritania, female Chudeau’s Spiny Mice reproduce in August-October, and they have 1-3 embryos (average 2).

Activity patterns. Chudeau’s Spiny Mouse is nocturnal, resting and avoiding heat in crevices during the day, but some individuals in the Air regionwere caught during the day.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Not assessed on The IUCN Red List. Chudeau’s Spiny Mouse has a wide distribution through Sahelo-Sudanian region whereit receives little human impact, and it is locally abundant in Mauritania and Mali.

Bibliography. Ba et al. (2001), Baréme et al. (2000), Benazzou (1983), Denys et al. (1994), Dobigny, Moulin et al. (2001), Dobigny, Nomao & Gautun (2002), Granjon & Duplantier (2009), Monadjem et al. (2015), Musser & Carleton (1993), Nicolas et al. (2009), Tranier et al. (1999), Viegas-Péquignot et al. (1983), Volobouev, Gautun & Tranier (1996), Volobouey,Tranier & Dutrillaux (1991).