73.

Brush-tailed Hairy-footed Gerbil

Gerbilliscus vallinus

French: Gerbille des vallées / German: Pinselschwanz-Haarsohlenrennmaus / Spanish: Gerbillo de pies peludos de cola de cepillo

Other common names: Bushy-tailed Hairy-footedGerbil

Taxonomy. Gerbillus vallinus Thomas, 1918,

“Tuin, near Kenhart, Hartebeest River, near 29° S., 21° E.,” Bushmanland, Northern Cape Province, South Africa.

Initially described as a Gerbillus, G. vallinus was later included in genus Gerbillurus by D. H. S. Davis in 1975, until chromosomal and molecular studies by A. Monadjem and colleagues in 2015 confirmed that Gerbillurus is synonym of Gerbilliscus. Chromosomes and molecular data indicated to L.. Granjon and coworkers in 2012 that G. vallinus is close to G. setzeri. Two subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

G.v.vallinusThomas,1918—NorthernCapeProvince,SouthAfrica.

G. v. seeheimi Lundholm, 1955 — S Namibia.

Descriptive notes. Head—body 96-110 mm,tail 119-156 mm, ear 14-16 mm, hindfoot 30-34 mm; weight 30-43 g. This small gerbil has reddish-brown to dark grayish-brown dorsal pelage and white underside. Hindfeet are elongated and soles partially covered by hairs. Tail is long (140% of head-body length) and ends with a well-developed pencil of dark red to black hairs. Females bear three pairs of mammae. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 60, FN = 80.

Habitat. Gravel zones with low vegetation, bush of Phaeoptilium (Nyctaginaceae) and Rhigozum trichotomum (Bignoniaceae), in South West Arid biotic zone.

Food and Feeding. Insects, plant material, and seed remains were found in burrows.

Breeding. Females can breed throughoutthe year, but there is a peak during summer. Litter size is 1-5 (mostly three). Young are altricial, open eyes during days 16-20, and are weaned at 23-28 days.

Activity patterns. Brush-tailed Hairy-footed Gerbils are terrestrial and nocturnal. They dig complex burrows where they store food, and nests with shredded vegetation can be found. During the day, they stay in burrows in order to avoid high temperatures.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. The Brush-tailed Hairy-footed Gerbil is a social species and displays low levels of aggressiveness. Foot-drumming and whistles at c.12 kHz and ultrasonic sounds (22-40 kHz) are associated with sexual and huddling behavior.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List (as Gerbillurus vallinus).

Bibliography. Davis (1975), Dempster et al. (1999), Granjon et al. (2012), Happold (2013a), Monadjem et al. (2015).