Gerbillus grobbeni, Klaptocz, 1909

Don E. Wilson, Russell A. Mittermeier & Thomas E. Lacher, Jr, 2017, Muridae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 7 Rodents II, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 536-884 : 629

94.

Grobben’s Gerbil

Gerbillus grobbeni

French: Gerbille de Grobben / German: Grobben-Rennmaus / Spanish: Gerbillo de Grobben

Taxonomy. Gerbillus grobbeni Klaptocz, 1909 ,

Dernah, Cyrenaica, Libya .

F. Petter in 1975 and G. B. Corbet in 1978 included G. grobbeni within G. nanus , but G. L. Ranck’s 1968 treatment of grobbeni as a separate species was followed by D. M. Lay in 1983 and G. G. Musser and M. D. Carleton in 2005 pending further revision. According to Ranck, and also S. Aulagnier and colleagues in 2009, grobbeni could be a synonym of G. amoenus , but no genetic or morphometric data support this hypothesis. Monotypic.

Distribution. Known only from type locality in NE Libya.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 83-5 mm, tail 120 mm, ear 11 mm, hindfoot 24-6 mm. No specific data are available for body weight (from holotype). Externally Grobben’s Gerbil is very similar to Pleasant Gerbil ( G. amoenus ). Description of holotype indicated that this rather small gerbil is characterized by brown-reddish dark dorsal pelage and white ventral one. Hairs may be long, and some white auricular spots are present. Long tail (144% of head-body length) is bicolored and ends in black pointed hairs (apparently not making a pencil). Hindfoot soles are naked.

Habitat. Coastal sand dunes.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. Grobben’s Gerbil is terrestrial.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Data Deficient on The IUCN Red Last.

Bibliography. Aulagnier et al. (2009), Corbet (1978), Klaptocz (1909), Lay (1983), Musser & Carleton (2005), Petter (1975a), Ranck (1968).

Figures

86. Ammodile (Ammodillus imbellis), 87. Pleasant Gerbil (Gerbillus amoenus), 88. Anderson’s Gerbil (Gerbillus andersoni), 89. Botta’s Gerbil (Gerbillus bottai), 90. North African Gerbil (Gerbillus campestris), 91. Flower’s Gerbil (Gerbillus floweri), 92. Algerian Gerbil (Gerbillus garamantis), 93. Lesser Egyptian Gerbil (Gerbillus gerbillus), 94. Grobben’s Gerbil (Gerbillus grobbeni), 95. Pygmy Gerbil (Gerbillus henleyi), 96. Moroccan Gerbil (Gerbillus hesperinus), 97. Hoogstraal’s Gerbil (Gerbillus hoogstraali), 98. James's Gerbil (Gerbillus jamesi), 99. Lataste’s Gerbil (Gerbillus latastei), 100. Greater Short-tailed Gerbil (Gerbillus maghrebi), 101. Occidental Gerbil (Gerbillus occiduus), 102. Lesser Short-tailed Gerbil (Gerbillus simoni), 103. Sand Gerbil (Gerbullus syrticus), 104. Tarabul Gerbil (Gerbillus tarabuli), 105. Vivacious Gerbil (Gerbillus vivax), 106. Waters’s Gerbil (Gerbillus watersi), 107. Agag Gerbil (Gerbillus agag), 108. Lowe’s Gerbil (Gerbillus lower), 109. Mauritanian Gerbil (Gerbillus mauritaniae), 110. Darfur Gerbil (Gerbillus muriculus), 111. Sudan Gerbil (Gerbillus nancillus)

Distribution. Known only from type locality in NE Libya.