Scarturus aulacotis (Wagner, 1840)

Don E. Wilson, Russell A. Mittermeier & Thomas E. Lacher, Jr, 2017, Dipodidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 7 Rodents II, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 81-100 : 91

16.

Syrian Five-toed Jerboa

Scarturus aulacotis

French: Gerboise de Wagner / German: Syrien-Pferdespringer / Spanish: Jerbo pentadéctilo de Siria

Taxonomy. Dipus aulacotis Wagner, 1840 ,

“ West coast of Arabia ” (probably NE of Aqaba in present-day Jordan ).

Previously included in the genus Allactaga and later Paralactaga, which has recently been found to be a junior synonym of Scarturus . In the past, S. aulacotis was synonymized with S. euphraticus. Phylogenetically, it is in the subgenus Paralactaga, being sister species of S. williamsi . The name Dipus aulacotis was considered a synonym of Allactaga major by J. R. Ellerman and T. C. S. Morrison-Scott in 1951 and appeared with a “2” and without any comment in M. E. Holden and G. G. Musser in 2005. Nevertheless, definite indication of the place of origin of the type specimen in the original description and type dimensions typical for euphraticus group, allow applying this name to the species in the euphraticus group, occurring west of Euphrates River. Monotypic.

Distribution. Extreme SC Turkey (Kilis) and NW Arabian Peninsula W of Euphrates River (W Syria, Jordan, and NW Saudi Arabia); in N Syria, probably, also occurs on the left bank of Euphrates.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 96-128 mm, tail 158-199 mm, ear 30-42 mm, hindfoot 51-61 mm. No specific data are available for body weight. Condylo-basal lengths of skulls are 27-8-31-7 mm, zygomatic breadths are 21-23-2 mm, and maxillary tooth row lengths are 6-6-8 mm. In general appearance and skull and molar morphologies, the Syrian Five-toedJerboa is similar to the EuphratesJerboa (S. euphraticus). Morphology of glans penis and chromosomal complement have not been described.

Habitat. Arid habitats, preferring foothills especially near “wadi” (ephemeral riverbeds) systems and grassy areas of “hamada” (barren, hard, rocky plateaus) desert; avoids sandy habitats.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. Breeding of the Syrian Five-toed Jerboa was recorded in April. Litters have 6-9 young.

Activity patterns. The Syrian Five-toed Jerboa is nocturnal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Not assessed on The IUCN Red List.

Bibliography. Amr et al. (2004), Atallah & Harrison (1969), Ellerman & Morrison-Scott (1951), Holden & Musser (2005), Krystufek, Arslan et al. (2013), Qumsiyeh (1996).

Figures

15. Williams's Jerboa (Scarturus williamsi), 16. Syrian Five-toed Jerboa (Scarturus aulacotis), 17. Euphrates Jerboa (Scarturus euphraticus), 18. Hotson' ’ s Five-toed Jerboa (Scarturus hotsoni), 19. Small Five-toed Jerboa (Scarturus elater), 20. Vinogradov’s Jerboa (Scarturus vinogradovi), 21. Four-toed Jerboa (Scarturus tetradactylus), 22. Greater Fat-tailed Jerboa (Pygeretmus shitkovi), 23. Lesser Fat-tailed Jerboa (Pygeretmus platyurus), 24. Dwarf Fat-tailed Jerboa (Pygeretmus pumilio), 26. Northern Three-toed Jerboa (Dipus sagitta), 27. Mongolian Three-toed Jerboa (Stylodipus andrewsi), 28. Thick-tailed Three-toed Jerboa (Stylodipus telum), 29. Dzungarian Three-toed Jerboa (Stylodipus sungorus), 30. Lichtenstein’s Jerboa (Eremodipus lichtensteini), 31. Greater Egyptian Jerboa (Jaculus orientalis), 32. Blanford’s Jerboa (Jaculus blanfordi), 33. Lesser Egyptian Jerboa (Jaculus jaculus), 34. African Hammada Jerboa (Jaculus hirtipes), 35. Arabian Jerboa (Jaculus loftusi)

Distribution. Extreme SC Turkey (Kilis) and NW Arabian Peninsula W of Euphrates River (W Syria, Jordan, and NW Saudi Arabia); in N Syria, probably, also occurs on the left bank of Euphrates.