611.

Jackson's Soft-furred Mouse

Praomys jacksoni

French: Praomys de Jackson / German: Jackson-Weichhaarratte / Spanish: Ratén de pelaje suave de Jackson

Other common names: Jackson's Praomys

Taxonomy. Mus jacksoni de Winton, 1897,

Entebbe, Uganda.

Praomys jacksoni is in the P. jacksoni species group along with P. degraaffi, P. minor, and P. mutoni. Molecular evidence has been found for four deep clades within P. jacksoni that may coincide with cryptic species, but until formal taxonomic revision can be completed, they are retained in P. jacksoni. Monotypic.

Distribution. Widespread in tropical Africa from Nigeria E to Kenya and S to N Angola and Zambia.

Descriptive notes. Head—body 94-131 mm, tail 125-168 mm, ear 15-22 mm, hindfoot 22-28 mm; weight 21-59 g. Fur ofJackson’s Soft-furred Mouse is long, soft, and gray (Juveniles and subadults) to rufous (adults) above and whitish gray below. Tail is very long (c.118-140% of head-body length), almost naked, dark gray above, and slightly paler below. Ears are large, round, dark, and sparsely haired. Forefeet are whitish, and hindfeet are pale, with brownish tinge and white toes. Females have three pairs of nipples. Chromosomal complement is 2n = 28 and FN = 30.

Habitat. Primary and secondary rainforests, montane forests, and cultivated and fallow crop fields.

Food and Feeding. Jackson's Soft-furred Mouse is mostly frugivorous, eating seeds, nuts, kernels, and fruits. Fruits are taken from the ground and carried to convenient shelters to remove hard shells. Insects are eaten infrequently.

Breeding. Breeding occurs year-round, peaking in wet season. Litters have 1-5 young in lowland forest and 1-6 young in montane forest.

Activity patterns. Jackson's Soft-furred Mouse is nocturnal, crepuscular, and terrestrial.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Jackson’s Soft-furred Mice make nests of grass and ferns underneath roots of trees. They forage in groups that may have home ranges restricted to vicinity of a single fruiting tree where they collectfruit during forays from sheltered spots.

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

Bibliography. Delany (1971), Dieterlen (1985a), Happold (2013a), Monadjem et al. (2015).