84.

Emin’s Tateril

Taterillus emina

French: Gerbille d’'Emin / German: Emin-Taterillus / Spanish: Gerbillo de Emins

Other

common names: Emin’s Gerbil

Taxonomy. Gerbillus emini Thomas, 1892,

Wadelai, Uganda.

Originally described under Gerbillus, T. emini was then moved to Taterillus by O. Thomas in 1910. Description of karyotypes of this species was provided by R. Matthey in 1969 and C. B. Robbins in 1973, the latter confirming the details in 1977 in a general revision of genus systematics. Taterillus harringtoni has same karyotype as 1. emin: and was put in synonymy by D. C. D. Happold in 2013 and by A. Monadjem and colleagues in 2015, despite some morphological differences and pending further molecular study. Monotypic.

Distribution. Central African Republic, Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia, NE DR Congo, Uganda, Kenya, Somalia, and N Tanzania.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 105-110 mm, tail 150-160 mm, ear 17-20 mm, hindfoot 30-32 mm. No specific data are available for body weight. Emin’s Tateril is a medium-sized gerbil with red-brown to orange dorsal pelage and white venter. Cheeks, eyes, and post-auricular white patches are visible. Tail is long (140-150% of head—body length) and with terminal pencil of dark hairs. Females bear four pairs of mammae. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 44, FN = 68.

Habitat. Emin’s Tateril is found in eastern parts of Sahelo-Sudanian and Somali-Masai savannas, but its particular habitat is not known. In Central African Republic one specimen was found in a floodplain grassland with permanent ponds.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. Emin’s Tateril is probably terrestrial and nocturnal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. Emin’s Tateril has a wide range including many protected zones.

Bibliography. Genest & Petter (1973), Happold (2013a), Matthey (1969), Monadjem et al. (2015), Robbins (1973a, 1977), Thomas (1910b).