Jump to content

Thomas's vlei rat

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The printable version is no longer supported and may have rendering errors. Please update your browser bookmarks and please use the default browser print function instead.

Thomas's vlei rat
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Muridae
Genus: Otomys
Species:
O. thomasi
Binomial name
Otomys thomasi
Osgood, 1910[2]
Synonyms

Otomys typus ssp. thomasi Bohmann 1952

Thomas's vlei rat (Otomys thomasi) is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is endemic to Kenya's high plateau mountains of the Rift Valley.[1][3]

Taxonomy

Osgood (1910) initially described this species as Otomys thomasi.[2] In 2006, it would be included under Otomys orestes (afroalpine vlei rat) by Carleton & Byrne.[1] Taylor et al. (2011) reviewed the genus Otomys and moved Otomys thomasi back to species status.[4][1]

Conservation

It is known from less than 10 locations in Kenya and isn't recorded in protected areas, hence the assessment of the species as "Vulnerable" by the IUCN.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Taylor, P.J.; Relton, C. (2021). "Otomys thomasi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T48016232A78324728. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T48016232A78324728.en.
  2. ^ a b Osgood, W. H. (1910). "Diagnoses of new East African mammals, including a new genus of Muridae". Field Museum of Natural History. 10 (2). Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  3. ^ "Otomys thomasi (id=1003412)". ASM Mammal Diversity Database. American Society of Mammalogists. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  4. ^ Taylor, Peter J.; Lavrenchenko, Leonid A.; Carleton, Michael D.; Verheyen, Erik; Bennett, Nigel C.; Oosthuizen, Carel J.; Maree, Sarita (13 September 2011). "Specific limits and emerging diversity patterns in East African populations of laminate-toothed rats, genus Otomys (Muridae: Murinae: Otomyini): Revision of the Otomys typus complex" (PDF). Zootaxa. 3024 (1): 1–66. doi:10.11646/ZOOTAXA.3024.1.1. S2CID 59381852. Retrieved 17 February 2023.