82.

Congo Tateril

Taterillus congicus

French: Gerbille du Congo / German: Kongo-Taterillus / Spanish: Gerbillo de Congo

Other common names: Congo Gerbil

Taxonomy. Taterillus congicus Thomas, 1915,

“Poko,” Upper Uele River, DR Congo.

Taterillus congicus can be distinguished from all others by means of its chromosome formula established by R. Matthey and F. Petter in 1970 and by using geometric morphometrics. Monotypic.

Distribution. N Cameroon, S Chad, Central African Republic, W South Sudan, and NE DR Congo; it probably occurs also in Sudan and Uganda.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 95-142 mm, tail 131-188 mm, ear 18-23 mm, hindfoot 28-32 mm; weight 32-77 g. A medium-sized gerbil, the Congo Tateril has chocolate-brown dorsal pelage and pure white venter. Some white supraorbital, postorbital, and post-auricular spots

are visible. Soles of hindfeet are naked. Hairy tail is longer than body (125-145% of head-body length) and ends with a dark pencil. Females bear four pairs of mammae. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 54, FNa = 64.

Habitat. The Congo Tateril has been found in Sudanian Combretaceae savannas and dry woodlands on sandy-clay soils with grasses, and even at the edge ofvillages.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. In Chad, two females were recovered with, respectively, three and four embryos.

Activity patterns. Congo Taterils are nocturnal and terrestrial.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Congo Tateril may be locally abundant,is found in many protected areas, and appears not to be subject to any threats.

Bibliography. Dobigny, Aniskin, Granjon et al. (2005), Dobigny, Aniskin & Volobouev (2002), Genest & Petter (1973), Granjon & Duplantier (2009), Granjon et al. (2004), Happold (2013a}, Matthey & Petter (1970), Tranier etal. (1973).