62.

Northern Savanna Gerbil

Gerbilliscus kempii

French: Gerbille de Kemp / German: Kemp-Nacktsohlenrennmaus / Spanish: Gerbillo de sabana septentrional

Other common names: Kemp's Gerbil

Taxonomy. Tatera kempii Wroughton, 1906,

Aguleri, Nigeria.

Originally described in genus 7 Tatera, G. kempii was synonymized with G. validus by P. J. J. Bates in 1988 on basis of molar morphology. New chromosomal data allowed G. G. Musser and M. D. Carleton to reinstate kempii as a distinct species in 2005. Molecularstudies by L.. Granjon and colleagues in 2012 confirmed that status and found G. kempui to be sister taxon of G. gambianus . Monotypic.

Distribution. Sub-Saharan regions (Sahelo-Sudanian and Guinean savannas) from Guinea and Sierra Leone E to SW Ethiopia, Uganda, W Kenya, NE DR Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, and NW Tanzania.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 140-190 mm, tail 142-173 mm, ear 17-26 mm, hindfoot 27-36 mm; weight 97-105 g. No sexual dimorphism except fortail length, which is longer in males than in females. A medium-sized gerbil, the Northern Savanna Gerbil has sandy-gray to orange dorsal pelage and pure white venter. Tail is about same length as or slightly longer than body (100% of head—body length) and hasa discrete small pencil at end. Females bear four pairs of mammae. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 48, FNa = 64.

Habitat. Northern Savanna Gerbils prefer grasslands or dense shrubs in sandy and soft soil of savannas. They may be found in anthropogenic habitats such as maize and cassava fields, and in palm oil or cocoa plantations.

Food and Feeding. The Northern Savanna Gerbil is a granivorous, herbivorous rodent. It consumes seeds, roots, leaves, and shoots and may store these in burrows.

Breeding. Reproduction can occur throughout the year. Litter size in Ivory Coast is 2-6.

Activity patterns. The Northern Savanna Gerbil is nocturnal and terrestrial, and digs burrows.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Locally abundant (up to 45 ind/ha in Nigeria), the Northern Savanna Gerbil may be a social species with overlapping home ranges.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List (as G. kempi). There are no major threats to this species.

Bibliography. Bates (1988), Colangelo, Civitelli & Capanna (2001), Colangelo, Granjon et al. (2007), Granjon & Duplantier (2009), Granjon et al. (2012), Happold (2013a), Musser & Carleton (2005).