Malacothrix typica (A. Smith, 1834)

Don E. Wilson, Russell A. Mittermeier & Thomas E. Lacher, Jr, 2017, Nesomyidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 7 Rodents II, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 156-203 : 203

68.

Long-eared Desert Mouse

Malacothrix typica

French: Malacothrix a grandes oreilles / German: Afrikanische Langohrmaus / Spanish: Raton de desierto de orejas largas

Other common names: Gerbil Mouse, Large-eared African Desert Mouse, Long-eared Mouse

Taxonomy. Otomys typicus A. Smith, 1834 ,

Graaff Reinet District , Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. Widely distributed in extreme SW Angola, Namibia, SW Botswana, and W & C South Africa.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 60-87 mm, tail 29-41 mm, ear 14-21 mm, hindfoot 15-20 mm; weight 15-23 g. The Longeared Desert Mouse 1s small, with a short tail. Fur is relatively long, soft, and grayish brown dorsally and grayish white ventrally. Base of each hair is dark gray. Three obvious dark stripes or patches are usually present on back. Ears relatively large and rounded. Limbs are short. Forelimb and hindlimb with four functional digits, with first digit greatly reduced.

Habitat. Various semiarid savanna and desert habitats, particularly where grass is short, soil is hard and compact and, rainfall is less than 550 mm.

Food and Feeding. The LLong-eared Desert Mouse feeds predominantly on green plant material but also eats seeds and insects.

Breeding. Pregnant LLong-eared Desert Mice have been recorded mostly during the warm rainy season in August-March. Litter sizes are 2-9 young. Gestation is 22-26 days. Neonates are c.1 gin weight and weaned after ¢.32 days. First litters occur at 34 months of age.

Activity patterns. The Long-eared Desert Mouse is nocturnal and terrestrial. Activity in captivity peaks between 19:00 h and 04:00 h. It rests in a burrow thatis excavated in soil.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. The Long-eared Desert Mouse forages at least up to 100 m from its burrow.

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

Bibliography. Bosing et al. (2014), Happold (2013h), Jooste & Palmer (1982), Kamleret al. (2015), Keogh (1985), Kerley (1992a), Klare et al. (2014), Knight & Skinner (1981), Monadjem et al. (2015), Smithers (1971).

Figures

1. White-tailed Tree Rat (Brachytarsomys albicauda), 2. Hairy-tailed Tree Rat (Brachytarsomys villosus), 3. Sleek-furred Ground Rat (Gymnuromys robert), 4. Antsingy Tufted-tail Rat (Eliurus antsingy), 5. Carleton’s Tufted-tail Rat (Eliurus carletoni), 6. Daniel’s Tufted-tail Rat (Elurus daniels), 7. Ellerman’s Tufted-tail Rat (Eliurus ellermani), 8. Grandidier’s Tufted-tail Rat (Eliurus grandidieri), 9. Major's Tufted-tail Rat (Eliurus majori), 10. Lesser Tufted-taill Rat (Elurus minor), 11. Milne-Edwards’s Tufted-tail Rat (Eliurus myoxinus), 12. White-tailed Tufted-tail Rat (Eliurus penicillatus), 13. Petter’s Tufted-tail Rat (Eliurus petteri), 14. Tanala Tufted-taill Rat (Elwurus tanala), 15. Webb's Tufted-tail Rat (Eliurus webbi), 16. Anjozorobe Naked-tail Forest Mouse (Voalavo antsahabensis), 17. Northern Naked-tail Forest Mouse (Voalavo gymnocaudus), 18. Bastard’s Big-footed Mouse (Macrotarsomys bastardi), 19. Ankarafantsika Big-footed Mouse (Macrotarsomys ingens), 20. Petter’s Big-footed Mouse (Macrotarsomys peter), 21. Koopman' ’ s Forest Mouse (Monticolomys koopmani), 22. Giant Jumping Rat (Hypogeomys antimena), 23. Small Short-tailed Rat (Brachywromys betsileoensis), 24. Large Short-tailed Rat (Brachyuromys ramirohitra), 25. Audebert’s Forest Rat (Nesomys audeberti), 26. Lamberton’s Forest Rat (Nesomys lambertoni), 27. Red Forest Rat (Nesomys rufus), 28. Delany’s Swamp Mouse (Delanymys brooksi), 29. African White-tailed Rat (Mystromys albicaudatus), 30. Shortridge’s Pygmy Rock Mouse (Petromyscus shortridger), 31. Short-eared Pygmy Rock Mouse (Petromyscus monticularis), 32. Barbour’s Pygmy Rock Mouse (Petromyscus barbouri), 33. Common Pygmy Rock Mouse (Petromyscus collinus)

Distribution. Widely distributed in extreme SW Angola, Namibia, SW Botswana, and W & C South Africa.