Aethomys nyikae

439.

Nyika Rock Rat

Aethomys nyikae

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.

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).