Petromyscus shortridger, 1926

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

30.

Shortridge’s Pygmy Rock Mouse

Petromyscus shortridger

French: Petromysque de Shortridge / German: Shortridge-Zwergfelsenmaus / Spanish: Ratén de roca enano de Shortridge

Other common names: Kaokoveld Pygmy Rock Mouse, Shortridge’'s Rock Mouse

Taxonomy. Petromyscus shortridge: Thomas, 1926 ,

“ Cunene Falls , N.W. Ovamboland, [southern Angola]. 3350’ [= 1022 m].”

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. Narrow distribution restricted to extreme SW Angola and N Namibia.

Descriptive notes. Head—body 65-98 mm, tail 74-104 mm, ear 13-18 mm, hindfoot 15-20 mm; weight 12-31 g. Shortridge’s Pygmy Rock Mouseis small, with long tail. Fur is soft andsilky, dark brown speckled black dorsally and grayish ventrally. Hairs have dark gray bases. Ears are large and rounded. Tail is moderately long but relatively short for a species of Petromyscus and darker above than below. Limbs are off-white, with four digits on forefeet and five digits on hindfeet. It has four nipples.

Habitat. Rocky substrates in hilly, mountainous, and arid terrain.

Food and Feeding. Shortridge’s Pygmy Rock Mouseis primarily granivorous but also eats insects and green plant material.

Breeding. Pregnant Shortridge’s Pygmy Rock Mice have been collected in August— May, with 2—4 embryos.

Activity patterns. No information.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN RedList. Shortridge’s Pygmy Rock Mouse occupies rocky habitat unlikely to becomethreatened in the near future.

Bibliography. Coetzee (2013d), Denys et al. (1995), Jansa et al. (1999), Monadjem et al. (2015), Petter (1967), Shortridge (1934a, 1934b), 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. Narrow distribution restricted to extreme SW Angola and N Namibia.