Aethomys nyikae (Thomas, 1897)
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publication ID |
https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.6887260 |
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DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6812078 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/1E30E275-34BD-FF0B-E46C-202374E78768 |
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treatment provided by |
Carolina |
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scientific name |
Aethomys nyikae |
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Nyika Rock Rat
French: Aethomys du Nyika / German: Nyika-Buschlandratte / Spanish: Rata de roca de Nyika
Other common names: Nyika Aethomys, Nyika Veld Rat
Taxonomy. Mus nyikae Thomas, 1897 ,
Nyika Plateau, N Malawi.
This species is monotypic.
Distribution. NE Angola, S DR Congo, N Zambia, and Malawi. View Figure
Descriptive notes. Head—body 120-156 mm, tail 145-178 mm, ear 20-21 mm, hindfoot 28-29 mm; weight 56-106 g. A medium-sized rat, the Nyika Rock Rat has fur coarse and red-tinged medium to dark brown dorsally, and grayish white ventrally. Chin and throat are off-white. Ears are medium-sized and brown. Tail is long (95 105% or more of head-body length) and coarsely scaled with fine hairs, dark above and paler below. Limbs are relatively short and foreand hindfeet dorsally off-white, with four digits on forefoot and five on hindfoot.
Habitat. Grassland savannas, montane forest—grassland ecotones, alpine meadows, and agricultural areas; associated with termite mounds in open woodlands. Usually at higher altitudes, from 800 m to at least 2300 m.
Food and Feeding. No information.
Breeding. In Zambia females bear 2-5 embryos.
Activity patterns. Nyika Rock Rats are nocturnal. They are mostly terrestrial, but may also climb.
Movements, Home range and Social organization. Nyika Rock Rats are possibly communal or semi-communal.
Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List.
Bibliography. Ansell (1960), De Graaff (1981), Monadjem etal. (2015).
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.
