16.

Damara Mole-rat

Fukomys damarensis

French: Bathyergue de Damara / German: Damara-Graumull / Spanish: Rata topo de Damara

Other common names: Botswanan Mole-rat, Damara Mole Rat, Damaraland Blesmol

Taxonomy. Bathyergus damarensis Ogilby, 1838,

Damaraland, Namibia.

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. S Angola, S Zambia, E Namibia, most of Botswana, W Zimbabwe, and NW South Africa (Northern Cape).

Descriptive notes. Head-body 169-9-178-7 mm (males) and 155-2-163 mm (females), tail 23-6-24-4 mm (males) and 21-5-22-5 mm (females); weight 119-8-210-2 g (males) and 113-6-169-4 g (females). The Damara Mole-rat is medium-sized, with short legs, cylindrical body, short tail, and vibrissae on tail and feet. Dorsal pelage is dark brown to black; large head has white head spot. Chromosomal complement is 2n = 74 or 78, FN = 92.

Habitat. Open sandy soils in semiarid thornscrub, savanna, and grassland areas.

Food and Feeding. The Damara Mole-rat is herbivorous and eats geophytes, tubers, and bulbs; it does not drink standing water.

Breeding. Breeding of the Damara Mole-rat is aseasonal. Gestation is 78-92 days;litter size averages three young (range 1-6), with up to three litters per year. Sex ratio is skewed toward males.

Activity patterns. The Damara Mole-rat burrows and digs with upper incisors. It is most active after rainfall and has a circadian rhythm.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Non-reproductive and unrelated Damara Mole-rats in a colony disperse. Home range averages 1-3 ha. Colonies of Damara Mole-rats are eusocial, with a single breeding female and 1-2 breeding males, overlapping generations, and non-reproductive individuals. Offspring are cared for cooperatively, and non-reproductive individuals forage, defend burrow systems, and care of young. Reproductive female suppresses ovulation of other females. There is widespread multiple paternity and unrelated immigrants in colony; colony size averages eleven individuals (range 2-14); and sex ratio is male-biased.

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

Bibliography. Barnett et al. (2003), Bennett & Faulkes (2000), Bennett & Jarvis (1988a, 2004), Bennett, Faulkes & Molteno (1996), Bennett, Jarvis, Millar et al. (1994), Burland et al. (2004), De Graaff (1972), Faulkes & Bennett (2001), Hazell et al. (2000), Lovegrove (1988), Lovegrove et al. (1993), Maree & Faulkes (2008b), Nevo et al. (1986), Roper et al. (2001).