Dasymys medius, Thomas, 1906
publication ID |
https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.6887260 |
DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6868683 |
persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/1E30E275-34B9-FF08-E19F-24F876FA8E84 |
treatment provided by |
Carolina |
scientific name |
Dasymys medius |
status |
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Middle Shaggy Rat
French: Dasymys intermédiaire / German: Mittlere Wollhaarratte / Spanish: Rata peluda de altitud media
Other common names: East African Altitude Shaggy Rat, Middle Dasymys
Taxonomy. Dasymys medius Thomas, 1906 View in CoL ,
Toro, Mubuku Valley, E. Rwenzori, Uganda.
Dasymys medius , previously considered to be part of D. incomtus , was elevated to spe- cies rank on basis of molecular and morphological data, although genetic distances (from cytochrome-b gene sequences) between it and D. sua and D. rwandae are less than 2%. Monotypic.
Distribution. Mountains of Albertine Rift and East African Rift, at elevations of up to 2600 m. View Figure
Descriptive notes. Head-body 150 mm, tail 134 mm, ear 20 mm, hindfoot 30 mm; weight 107 g. Like all Dasymys , the Middle ShaggyRat has fur that is soft, shaggy, and long-haired, and is reddish brown dorsally and dull gray ventrally. Head is broad, with short muzzle, the vibrissae long, and ears rounded and well furred on inside. Tail is ¢.10% shorter than head-body length, heavily scaled, sparsely haired, and darker above than below.
Habitat. Swampy areas in wetlands.
Food and Feeding. The Middle Shaggy Rat is presumably herbivorous.
Breeding. No information.
Activity patterns. Middle ShaggyRats are nocturnal and diurnal.
Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.
Status and Conservation. Not assessed on The [UCN Red List.
Bibliography. Kerbis Peterhans et al. (1998), Monadjem et al. (2015), Mullin, Pillay & Taylor (2004, 2005),Mullin, Taylor & Pillay (2004).
No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.