Sekeetamys calurus (Thomas 1892)

[Gerbillus] calurus Thomas 1892, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., ser. 6, 9: 76.

Type Locality: Egypt, Sinai, near Tor.

Vernacular Names: Bushy-tailed Jird.

Synonyms: Sekeetamys makrami Setzer 1961 .

Distribution: Restricted to rocky and cliff habitat from E Egypt (east side of the Nile) through Sinai, SE Israel and SW Jordan into C Saudi Arabia (Harrison and Bates, 1991; Mendelssohn and Yom-Tov, 1999; Osborn and Helmy, 1980; Qumsiyeh, 1996).

Conservation: IUCN – Lower Risk (lc).

Discussion: Although researchers now agree that calurus merits generic separation, in the past it has been regarded as a species of Gerbillus, Dipodillus, or Meriones (see references in Corbet, 1978 c, and Osborn and Helmy, 1880). Morphology, taxonomy, and ecology summarized by Osborn and Helmy (1980) for Egyptian population, Qumsiyeh (1996) for populations in Israel and Jordan, and Harrison and Bates (1991) for Arabian Peninsula. Distribution on Sinai Peninsula recorded by Saleh and Basuony (1998). Chromosomal data summarized by Qumsiyeh and Schlitter (1991). Reviewed in detail by Pavlinov et al. (1990).