Rhabdomys pumilio (Sparrman 1784)

[Mus] pumilio Sparrman 1784, K. Svenska Vet.-Akad. Handl. Stockholm: 236.

Type Locality: South Africa, S Western Cape Province, east of Knysna, Tsitsikamma Forest, Slangrivier.

Vernacular Names: Xeric Four-striped Grass Rat.

Synonyms: Rhabdomys bechuanae (Thomas 1893); Rhabdomys cinereus (Thomas and Schwann 1904); Rhabdomys deserti (Dollman 1910); Rhabdomys donavani (Lesson 1827); Rhabdomys fouriei Roberts 1946; Rhabdomys griquae (Wroughton 1905); Rhabdomys intermedius (Wroughton 1905); Rhabdomys lineatus (F. Cuvier 1829); Rhabdomys major (Brants 1827); Rhabdomys meridionalis (Wroughton 1905); Rhabdomys namaquensis Roberts 1946; Rhabdomys namibensis Roberts 1926; Rhabdomys orangiae Roberts 1946; Rhabdomys prieskae Roberts 1946; Rhabdomys septemvittatus (Schinz 1845); Rhabdomys typicus (Sclater 1899); Rhabdomys vittatus (Wagner 1842) .

Distribution: Xeric grasslands and savannas from W South Africa north through Namibia and C and S Botswana to SW Angola.

Conservation: IUCN – Data Deficient.

Discussion: As defined by Rambau et al. (2003), P. pumilio is endemic to the Southern African Subregion. Rambau et al. did not sample populations from Angola or Botswana, but we regard Hill and Carter’s (1941:102) record of " R. bechuanae " from the Namib desert in southwestern Angola as an extension of P. pumilio through Namibia (see accounts above). Most of Botswana is covered by arid savanna, and records of Rhabdomys from there (see de Graaff, 1997 e; Smithers, 1971) are likely P. pumilio and not P. dilectus, which occupies mesic grasslands and savannas (Rambau et al., 2003).