605.

Dalton’s Soft-furred Mouse

Praomys daltoni

French: Praomys de Dalton / German: Dalton-Weichhaarratte / Spanish: Ratén de pelaje suave de Dalton

Other common names: Dalton’s Mouse, Dalton’'s Praomys

Taxonomy. Mus dalton: Thomas, 1892,

“W. Africa (probably Fernando Po).”

Corrected by O. Thomas in 1911 to “Upper

Nicola Coba, Gambia [= Niokolo Koba National Park, Senegal, according to P. Grubb and colleagues in 1998]. 500° [= 182 m].”

Taxon derooi was initially described as a distinct species, but it is retained here in P daltoni based on genetic similarity. Monotypic.

Distribution. Mostly W Africa, extending in a narrow band from Senegal E to NW South Sudan, with outlying records in NE Mali, C Chad, and S Central African Republic.

Descriptive notes. Head—body 98-133 mm, tail 107-142 mm, ear 16-20 mm, hindfoot 20-25 mm; weight 24-66 g. Fur of Dalton’s Soft-furred Mouse is yellowish brown to chocolate-brown above, sharply demarcated along flanks and cheeks from pure white belly. The derooi form has gray venter, and the daltoniform has pure white venter. Tail is long (c.110% of head-body length), with small scales and appearing naked. Hindfeet and forefeet are white above, and hindfeet are rather short with relatively short fifth digit and long first digit. Females have five pairs of nipples. Chromosomal complement is 2n = 36 and FNa = 34.

Habitat. Savanna habitats, particularly with rocks and grass ( daltoni form) and around settlements and cultivated fields (deroo: form).

Food and Feeding. Dalton’s Soft-furred Mice are mainly granivorous. In Senegal, they prefer seeds of Trianthema portulacastrum ( Aizoaceae) throughout the year. Insects (mainly termites) are eaten at beginning of dryseason.

Breeding. In Nigeria, reproduction occurs year-round, but it is seasonal in Senegal and Ivory Coast. Gestation is 23 days. Litters have 3-10 young in captivity, and means of 3-6-5 embryos/female have been found in Ivory Coast.

608.

Gotel Mountain Softfurred Mouse

Praomys obscurus

French: Praomys des Gotel / German: Gotel-Weichhaarratte / Spanish: Raton de pelaje suave de Gotel

Activity patterns. Dalton’s Soft-furred Mouse is nocturnal and at least partly arboreal, occupying nests in tree holes or under bark.

Other common names: Gotel Mountain Praomys, Obscure Praomys, Obscure Soft-Furred Mouse

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Densities fluctuate seasonally from 3 ind/ha (mid-dry season) and 10 ind/ha (mid-wet season) in southern Nigeria to 0-20 ind/ha over three years in south-eastern Senegal .

Taxonomy. Praomys hartwingi obscurus Hutterer & Dieterlen, 1992, Gangirwal, Gotel Mountains, Mambilla Plateau, 2300 m, south-eastern Nigeria.

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

Bibliography. Anadu (1979b), Bryja et al. (2010), Gautun (1975), Grubb et al. (1998), Happold (2013a), Monadjem et al. (2015), Moro & Hubert (1983), Rosevear (1969), Thomas (1911d), Van der Straeten & Verheyen (1978b).

Praomys obscurus is one of eight species in the P tullbergi species group and distinguished based on molecular grounds. It was previously considered a subspecies of P. hartwigi . Monotypic.

606.

Hartwig’s Soft-furred Mouse

Praomys hartwigi

Distribution. Endemic to the Gotel Mts, SE Nigeria. Descriptive notes. Head-body 108-137 mm, tail 149-174 mm, ear 19-21 mm, hindfoot 26-28 mm; weight 34-60 g. Fur of the Gotel Mountain Soft-furred Mouse is dark brown to grayish black above, without russet tinge of Hartwig’s Soft-furred Mouse (P. hartwigi), slightly paler on flanks, and whitish gray below. Dorsum and venter are separated by think pale reddish brown line. Tail is very long (c.140% of head-body length). Forefeet and hindfeet are pale. Forefeet have four functional digits; first digit is reduced to small tubercle with very small claw. Hindfeet have five clawed digits. Females have three pairs of nipples.

French: Praomys de Hartwig / German: Hartwig-Weichhaarratte / Spanish: Raton de pelaje suave de Hartwig

Other common names: Hartwig's Praomys

Taxonomy. Praomys hartwigi Eisentraut, 1968, Lake Oku, Bamenda Highlands, Cameroon. Praomys hartwigi is one of eight species in the P. tullbergi species group. It can be distinguished from other members of the group based on molecular grounds. Monotypic.

Habitat. Relic patches of forest and associated habitats at elevations of 1900-2300 m.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Distribution. Restricted to Mt Oku and Mt Manengouba in the Bamenda Highlands of Cameroon.

Breeding. Based on a sample of two Gotel Mountain Soft-furred Mice, litters have 3-young.

Activity patterns. The Gotel Mountain Soft-furred Mouse is nocturnal and terrestrial.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 115-134 mm, tail 152-173 mm, ear 17-21 mm, hindfoot 24-28 mm; weight 44-70 g. Fur of Hartwig’s Soft-furred Mouse is long, soft, and rich dark reddish brown or russet-brown above and on flanks and whitish gray below. Tail is very long (c.140% of head-body length), medium brown with fine dark scales and short dark bristles. Hindfeet and forefeet are whitish. Forefeet have first digit reduced to tubercle with small claw. Females have three pairs of nipples.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Endangered on The IUCN Red Last.

Bibliography. Happold (2013a), Hutterer et al. (1992), Monadjem et al. (2015)

.

609.

West African Soft-furred Mouse

Praomys rostratus

Habitat. Montane forests.

French: Praomys de Miller / German: Westafrika-Weichhaarratte / Spanish: Raton de pelaje suave de Africa occidental

Food and Feeding. Hartwig’s Soft-furred Mouse is omnivorous, with up to 10% of stomachs contents comprising arthropods and worms.

Other common names: Forest Soft-furred Mouse, West African Praomys

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. Hartwig’s Soft-furred Mice are nocturnal, terrestrial and probably scansorial based on limb proportions. They are trapped on the forest floor.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Vulnerable on The IUCN Red List.

Bibliography. Eisentraut (1970), Happold (2013a), Hutterer et al. (1992), Monadjem et al. (2015).

607.

Cameroon Soft-furred Mouse

Praomys morio

French: Praomys du Cameroun / German: Kamerun-Weichhaarratte / Spanish: Raton de pelaje suave de Camerun

Other common names: Cameroon Praomys

Taxonomy. Mus (Epimys) morio Trouessart, 1881, Mount Cameroon, 2135 m, Cameroon. Praomys morio is one of eight species in the P. tullbergi species group and distinguished based on molecular grounds. Monotypic.

Distribution. Mt Cameroon, W Cameroon, and Bioko I, Equatorial Guinea. Descriptive notes. Head-body 100- 130 mm, tail 110-147 mm, ear 16-20 mm, hindfoot 21-25 mm; weight 27-62 g. Fur of the Cameroon Soft-furred Mouse is dark rufous-brown to blackish brown above and pale to dark gray below. Tail is very long (c.112% of head-body length) and dark. Hindfeet and forefeet are dark brown. Females have three pairs of nipples. Habitat. Montane forest and alpine grassland at elevations above 1000 m. Food and Feeding. No information. Breeding. Gestation lasts 26-30 days. Litters have 2-6 young. Activity patterns. The Cameroon Soft-furred Mouse is nocturnal and terrestrial. Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information. Status and Conservation. Classified as Endangered on The IUCN Red List. The Cameroon Soft-furred Mouse occurs in two disjunct areas occupying only ¢.2900 km? and the extent and quality of its forest habitat continue to decline. Bibliography. Eisentraut (1970, 1973), Happold (2013a), Missoup et al. (2012), Monadjem etal. (2015).

Taxonomy. Mus tullbergi rostratus G. S. Miller, 1900, Mount Coffee, Liberia.

Praomys rostratus is in the P. tullbergi species group and distinguished based on molecular and partially morphometric grounds from P. tullbergi with which it co-occurs in West Africa. Monotypic.

Distribution. Widespread in tropical W Africa from Senegal (Basse Casamance) to Ivory Coast—-Ghana border.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 109-147 mm, tail 124-171 mm, ear 17-21 mm, hindfoot 24-31 mm; weight 31-73 g. Fur of the West African Soft-furred Mouse is reddish brown to yellowish brown (older individuals) or dark brown (younger) above and nearly white below in adults. Some males have white markings in front of penis. Tail is very long (115-125% of head-body length), dark brown above and below with irregular white spots. Hindfeet and forefeet are white. Females have three pairs of nipples. Chromosomal complement is 2n = 34 and FN = 32.

Habitat. Rainforests, woodlands, and cultivated land at elevations up to 1300 m, possibly even higher.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. Litters of West African Soft-furred Mice have 2-4 young. Activity patterns. The West African Soft-furred Mouse is nocturnal and terrestrial to partly arboreal; it can be found up to 2:5 m high in trees.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information. Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List.

Bibliography. Akpatou et al. (2007), Gautun et al. (1986), Happold (2013a), Lim & van Coeverden de Groot (1997), Monadjem et al. (2015), Nicolas, Bryja et al. (2008), Tranier & Dosso (1979), Van der Straeten & Verheyen (1981).