81.

Gracile Tateril

Taterillus gracilis

French: Gerbille gracile / German: Schlanker Taterillus / Spanish: Gerbillo esbelto

Other common names: Slender Gerbil, Slender Tateril

Taxonomy. Gerbillus gracilis Thomas, 1892, “Gambia.”

The chromosomal formula of Taterillus gracilis was used by R. Matthey and M. Jotterand in 1972 to distinguish this species.Its validity has since been confirmed by various cytogenetic studies, as indicated in 2005 by G. Dobigny and colleagues. Monotypic.

Distribution. Senegal, Gambia, Mali, Burkina Faso, S Niger, WC Chad, N Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Nigeria.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 96-130 mm, tail 135-176 mm, ear 16-23 mm, hindfoot 29-32-5 mm; weight 45-81 g. The Gracile Tateril is a medium-sized gerbil with orangebrown dorsum and pure white venter. Some white cheek, supraorbital, and postorbital spots are visible. Soles of hindfeet are almost bare. Long tail (reaching 110-145% of head-body length) terminates in a long pencil of dark hairs. Females bear four pairs of mammae. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 36/37, FNa = 44.

Habitat. Gracile Taterils inhabit Sahelo-Sudanian savanna, preferring woodland savannas and thornbush scrub. Rich soils with clay and Combretaceae plants are favored. They may be found also in cultivated fields and gardens.

Food and Feeding. The Gracile Tateril is an omnivorous species, but the bulk of its diet is composed of seeds, stems, and leaves, with relatively high quantities of insects. Diet varies with season.

Breeding. Reproduction is highly dependent on rainfall patterns and available amounts of resources, and can vary from 3-4 months in drought periods to ten months in good periods. After gestation period of 30 days, females give birth to 3-5 young (data from studies in captivity).

Activity patterns. Gracile Taterils are nocturnal and terrestrial. They stay in their burrow during day, which is simple, nearly vertical, with only one entrance, and deep (up to 55 cm below surface).

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Short-distance movements (20-40 m) have been observed, but they increase during the wet season and male and female territories overlap. In Senegal, females had average home ranges of 700 m* and males 750 m?*. The Gracile Tateril can be very abundant locally, and may reach 44 ind/ ha in good weather conditions, compared to 0-4 ind/ha during dry periods.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. Gracile Taterils have a wide range and are found in various protected zones.

Bibliography. Dobigny et al. (2005), Granjon & Duplantier (2009), Happold (2013a), Matthey & Jotterand (1972), Robbins (1973b).