Saccostomus campestris, Peters, 1846

Don E. Wilson, Russell A. Mittermeier & Thomas E. Lacher, Jr, 2017, Nesomyidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 7 Rodents II, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 156-203 : 197

42.

Southern African Pouched Mouse

Saccostomus campestris

French: Saccostome du Cap / German: Sidliche Kurzschwanzhamsterratte / Spanish: Raton de abazones de Africa meridional

Other common names: Cape Pouched Mouse

Taxonomy. Saccostomus campestris Peters, 1846 ,

Tete , Zambezi River , Tete District, Mozambique .

Saccostomus campestris has high chromosomal variability, prompting suggestions that it may represent a species complex. However, a recent study combining molecular and morphological analyses across southern and eastern Africa has shown that differ ences within this taxon do not represent species-level variation. Hence S. campestris refers to a single, but highly variable, species. Two subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

S.c.campestrisPeters,1846—SWTanzania,Zambia,Malawi,andNMozambique;populationsfromAngolaandDRCongomayrefertothissubspecies.

S. c. mashonae de Winton, 1897 — Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, S Mozambique, South Africa, and Swaziland.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 95-173 mm, tail 28-55 mm, ear 16-20 mm, hindfoot 17-22 mm; weight 33-81 g. The Southern African Pouched Mouse is medium-sized, with well-developed cheek pouches. Fur is soft and gray dorsally, clearly demarcated from white belly. There is significant geographical variation in size and pelage color, with individuals from dry arid zones paler than those from moister woodlands and savannas. Chin, throat, and upper chest are white. Ears are rounded. Tail is noticeably short, sparsely covered in bristles. Limbs are white, with four digits on forefeet and five digits on hindfeet.

Habitat. Wide range of low-lying savanna and woodlands from semi-desert conditions to moist miombo woodland, typically below elevations of ¢.1500 m.

Food and Feeding. The Southern African Pouched Mouse eats mostly seeds, which can be cached in burrows. Seeds from more than 20 species of plants have so far been collected from burrows. It also eats green plant material.

Breeding. Pregnant Southern African Pouched Mice have been recorded mostly during the warm rainy season in October—-April. Average littersize varies considerably between locations from 5-1 young in Malawi to 6-7 in Zimbabwe, seven in Botswana, and 7-1 in captivity. Growth is rapid, with young reaching 43 g by c.4 weeks of age. Gestation period c.21 days. Neonates are c.3 g in weight, growing to 15 g when weaned after 19-25 days. First conception occurs at 56 days, and litter interval is 53 days. Body mass of young individuals varies with season, but older individuals retain body weight throughoutthe year.

Activity patterns. The Southern African Pouched Mouse is nocturnal and terrestrial. Individuals excavate burrows in sandy soils or take over existing holes such as those in termite mounds or holes excavated by other mammals. Burrows may be simple, containing a single chamber, or more complex with multiple chambers; they can extend up to 8:5 m. In the laboratory, individuals enter torpor at temperatures similar to those in the cool dry season of its distribution in southern Africa, although males are less inclined to enter torpor than females. Burrows provide thermal protection.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. The Southern African Pouched Mouse is solitary, with single adults occupying burrows. Based on trapping data, home range size is 0-12-0-28 ha.

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

Bibliography. Corti et al. (2004), Ellison (1993, 1996), Ellison & Skinner (1992), Ellison, Bronner & Taylor (1993), Ellison, Taylor et al. (1993), Fitzherbert et al. (2007), Gordon (1986), Gordon & Rautenbach (1980), Gordon & Watson (1986), Hanney (1965), Hickman & Machiné (1986), Hurst, McCleery, Collier, Fletcher et al. (2013), Hurst, McCleery, Collier, Silvy et al. (2014), Kerley (1989), Lovegrove & Raman (1998), MacFadyen et al. (2012), Maputla etal. (2011), Mikula et al. (2016), Monadjem (1997b, 1999a), Monadjem et al. (2015), Mzilikazi & Lovegrove (2002), Perrin (2013a), Perrin & Kokkinn (1986), Petter (1966a), Rautenbach (1982), Smithers (1971), Smithers & Tello (1976), Smithers & Wilson (1979), Speakman et al. (1994), Westlin-van Aarde (1988, 1989), Yarnell et al. (2007).

Figures

1. White-tailed Tree Rat (Brachytarsomys albicauda), 2. Hairy-tailed Tree Rat (Brachytarsomys villosus), 3. Sleek-furred Ground Rat (Gymnuromys robert), 4. Antsingy Tufted-tail Rat (Eliurus antsingy), 5. Carleton’s Tufted-tail Rat (Eliurus carletoni), 6. Daniel’s Tufted-tail Rat (Elurus daniels), 7. Ellerman’s Tufted-tail Rat (Eliurus ellermani), 8. Grandidier’s Tufted-tail Rat (Eliurus grandidieri), 9. Major's Tufted-tail Rat (Eliurus majori), 10. Lesser Tufted-taill Rat (Elurus minor), 11. Milne-Edwards’s Tufted-tail Rat (Eliurus myoxinus), 12. White-tailed Tufted-tail Rat (Eliurus penicillatus), 13. Petter’s Tufted-tail Rat (Eliurus petteri), 14. Tanala Tufted-taill Rat (Elwurus tanala), 15. Webb's Tufted-tail Rat (Eliurus webbi), 16. Anjozorobe Naked-tail Forest Mouse (Voalavo antsahabensis), 17. Northern Naked-tail Forest Mouse (Voalavo gymnocaudus), 18. Bastard’s Big-footed Mouse (Macrotarsomys bastardi), 19. Ankarafantsika Big-footed Mouse (Macrotarsomys ingens), 20. Petter’s Big-footed Mouse (Macrotarsomys peter), 21. Koopman' ’ s Forest Mouse (Monticolomys koopmani), 22. Giant Jumping Rat (Hypogeomys antimena), 23. Small Short-tailed Rat (Brachywromys betsileoensis), 24. Large Short-tailed Rat (Brachyuromys ramirohitra), 25. Audebert’s Forest Rat (Nesomys audeberti), 26. Lamberton’s Forest Rat (Nesomys lambertoni), 27. Red Forest Rat (Nesomys rufus), 28. Delany’s Swamp Mouse (Delanymys brooksi), 29. African White-tailed Rat (Mystromys albicaudatus), 30. Shortridge’s Pygmy Rock Mouse (Petromyscus shortridger), 31. Short-eared Pygmy Rock Mouse (Petromyscus monticularis), 32. Barbour’s Pygmy Rock Mouse (Petromyscus barbouri), 33. Common Pygmy Rock Mouse (Petromyscus collinus)

Subspecies and Distribution. S.c.campestrisPeters,1846—SWTanzania,Zambia,Malawi,andNMozambique;populationsfromAngolaandDRCongomayrefertothissubspecies. S. c. mashonae de Winton, 1897 — Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, S Mozambique, South Africa, and Swaziland.