67.

Bushveld Gerbil

Gerbilliscus leucogaster

French: Gerbille a ventre blanc / German: WeiRRbauch-Nacktsohlenrennmaus / Spanish: Gerbillo de sabana arbolada

Taxonomy. Meriones leucogaster Peters, 1852,

“Africa orientalis, Mesuril, Boror[, Mozambique], 15° ad 17° Lat. Austr.”

Initially described in genus Meriones and in 1939 placed by G. M. Allen in Tatera, G. leucogasterwas subsequently clustered within a large G. robustus group butlater separated on basis of morphometrics and morphoanatomical studies. Chromosomes were detailed by M. B. Qumsiyeh in 1986. Molecular analysis by L. Granjon and colleagues in 2012 allowed confirmation of its validity and geographic variability within a clade including G. aferand G. brantsii. Monotypic.

Distribution. Angola, S DR Congo, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique (including Bazaruto I, off S coast), N South Africa, and Swaziland.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 89-155 mm,tail 120-175 mm, ear 18-26 mm, hindfoot 24-38 mm; weight 32-114 g. A medium-sized gerbil, the Bushveld Gerbil is characterized by reddish-brown to orange-buffy dorsal pelage and pure white venter. Tail is longer (115%) than head-body length,is bicolored, and has a dark small terminaltuft. Females bear four pairs of mammae. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 40, FN = 66.

Habitat. Zambezian woodland savannas. The Bushveld Gerbil prefers sandy and soft soils, dry river courses, miombo (Brachystegia, Fabaceae) woodlands, and savannas, at elevations of up to 1600 m

Food and Feeding. The Bushveld Gerbil feeds on insects, seeds, and vegetable matter, in proportions varying according to season.

Breeding. Although female Bushveld Gerbils can reproduce year-round, peaks in births have been noted at the beginning of the wet season. Gestation lasts for 28 days, and litter size is 2-9 (average 5). Young are blind and naked at birth, open eyes at 16-21 days, and are weaned at day 28.

Activity patterns. Like all other gerbils oftribe Taterillini, the Bushveld Gerbil is a nocturnalterrestrial rodent. It moves by quadrupedal hopping. At bases of small shrubsit digs several complex burrows with many entrances, tunnels, and a main chamber with carpet of dry vegetation.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Lack of aggressiveness in the laboratory suggests some sociality. Bushveld Gerbils communicate with ultrasounds and foot-drumming.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The [UCN Red List.

Bibliography. Allen (1939), Dempster & Perrin (1994), Granjon et al. (2012), Happold (2013a), Monadjem etal. (2015), Qumsiyeh (1986).