74.

Paeba Hairy-footed Gerbil

Gerbilliscus paeba

French: Gerbille a pieds velus / German: Kalahari-Haarsohlenrennmaus / Spanish: Gerbillo de pies peludos de Paeba

Other common names: Hairy-footed Gerbil, Pygmy Gerbil, Pygmy Hairy-footed Gerbil

Taxonomy. Gerbillus paeba A. Smith, 1836,

Vryberg, western Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.

Originally described in genus Gerbillus, and later moved by G. S. Shortridge to his newly described genus Gerbillurus in 1942, the taxon paeba is now treated under genus Gerbilliscus as a result of molecular/ chromosomal studies by P. Chevret and G. Dobigny in 2005, P. Colangelo and team in 2007, and L. Granjon and colleagues in 2012. G. paeba is thought to be close to G. tytonis. Five subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

G.p.paebaA.Smith,1836—SAngola,Namibia,Botswana,WZimbabwe,andWSouthAfrica.

G.p.coombsiRoberts,1929—SMozambique,extremeSEZimbabwe,andNESouthAfrica.

G.p.exilisShortridge&Carter,1938—SWEasternCapeProvince,SouthAfrica.

G.p.infernusLundholm,1955—SWAngolaandNWNamibia.

G. p. mulleri Roberts, 1946 — Cape Flats, Western Cape Province, South Africa.

Descriptive notes. Head—body 85-105 mm, tail 102-125 mm, ear 16-19 mm, hindfoot 26-29 mm; weight 20-37 g. The Paeba Hairy-footed Gerbil is one of the four small hairy-footed members of subgenus Gerbillurus . It is characterized by a long slightly tufted tail (120% of head—body length), and red-orange to gray dorsal pelage and white underside. Tympanic bullae are inflated and extend posteriorly. Females bear three pairs of mammae. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 36, FN = 68.

Habitat. Paeba Hairy-footed Gerbils live in arid or semiarid regions with sandy soils or sandy alluvium with grass or shrub. They prefer dune slopes with light vegetation, riverbanks, or fine soil in pans.

Food and Feeding. Pacba Hairy-footed Gerbils are omnivorous and opportunistic, their diet including seeds, arthropods, and green parts of plants in variable proportions according to the season.

Breeding. Reproduction is seasonal, and occurs mainly during middle to late summer (December—April), population density increasing after summer rainfall. Gestation lasts 21 days, and females give birth to 2-6 offspring. Young open eyes at 14-18 days and are weaned at day 21.

Activity patterns. Pacba Hairy-footed Gerbils are terrestrial and nocturnal. They dig simple to complex burrows under vegetation, with entrances never plugged with sand. They may store food in their burrows.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Paecba Hairy-footed Gerbils appear to be solitary and are aggressive toward conspecifics in captivity, where chasing and mutual boxing have been observed. It communicates by means of foot-drumming and ultrasonic whistles. Densities vary from 0-7 ind/ha to 7-7 ind/ha.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List (as Gerbillurus paeba).

Bibliography. Perrin et al. (1999).