Petromyscus monticularis (Thomas & Hinton, 1925)

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 : 193

31.

Short-eared Pygmy Rock Mouse

Petromyscus monticularis

French: Petromysque du Brukkaros / German: Brukkaros-Zwergfelsenmaus / Spanish: Raton de roca enano de orejas cortas

Other common names: Brukkaros Pygmy Rock Mouse

Taxonomy. Praomys monticularis Thomas & Hinton, 1925 ,

“ Gt. Brukaros Mt. , near Berseba, [ Namibia]. 3500°-5200’ [= 1067-1585 m].”

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. S Namibia and NW South Africa.

Descriptive notes. Head—body 63-93 mm, tail 66-84 mm, ear 10-14 mm, hindfoot 13-17 mm. No specific data are available for body weight. The Short-eared Pygmy Rock Mouse is small, with a long tail. Fur is soft and silky, dark brown dorsally and grayish on belly. Hairs have dark gray base. Ears are relatively short for a species of Petromyscus and rounded. Tail is long but relatively short for a Petromyscus species, and slightly darker above than below. Limbs are off-white, with four digits on forefeet and five digits on hindfeet. It has six nipples.

Habitat. Rocky plains such as those at bases of mountains and rocky outcrops.

Food and Feeding. The Short-eared Pygmy Rock Mouse is primarily granivorous but also eats insects and green plant material.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. No information.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Shorteared Pygmy Rock Mouse occupies rocky habitat that is unlikely to becomethreatened in the near future.

Bibliography. Coetzee (2013c), Denys et al. (1995), Jansa et al. (1999), Matson & Blood (1994), Monadjem et al. (2015), Petter (1967), Skinner & Chimimba (2005).

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. S Namibia and NW South Africa.