Mastomys pernanus (Kershaw, 1921)

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 : 807

602.

Dwarf Multimammate Mouse

Mastomys pernanus

French: Mastomys nain / German: Zwerg-Vielzitzenmaus / Spanish: Raton multimamas

enano Other common names: Dwarf Mastomys Taxonomy. Rattus pernanus Kershaw, 1921 ,

“Amala River” (= upper course of Mara River), Kenya. Although M. pernanus is grouped in the genus Mastomys based on morphological grounds, molecular data from one speci men grouped it with Hylomyscus . Monotypic. Distribution. Mostly Serengeti Plains on the border between Kenya and Tanzania, with an aberrant specimen from EC Tanzania and an unconfirmed record from Rwanda.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 73-88 mm, tail 60-78 mm, ear 14-16 mm, hindfoot 15-18 mm. No specific data are available for body weight. The Dwarf Multimammate Mouse is the smallest species of Mastomys , with conspicuous and distinctive white spot behind ears. Fur is darkish grayabove and gray washed with buff below. In most individuals, ocherousstripe separates flanks and belly. Some individuals have white chest. Tail is long (c.85% of head-body length) and well covered with short hair.

Habitat. Miombo ( Brachystegia , Fabaceae ) woodland in central Tanzania.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. The Dwarf Multimammate Mouse is nocturnal and terrestrial.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

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

Bibliography. Happold (2013a), Lecompte, Granjon, Kerbis Peterhans & Denys (2002), Monadjem et al. (2015), Van der Straeten (1999).

Figures

“Amala River” (= upper course of Mara River), Kenya. Although M. pernanus is grouped in the genus Mastomys based on morphological grounds, molecular data from one speci men grouped it with Hylomyscus . Monotypic. Distribution. Mostly Serengeti Plains on the border between Kenya and Tanzania, with an aberrant specimen from EC Tanzania and an unconfirmed record from Rwanda.