Graphiurus microtis (Noack, 1887)

Don E. Wilson, Thomas E. Lacher, Jr & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2016, Gliridae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 6 Lagomorphs and Rodents I, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 838-889 : 844-845

9.

Noack’s African Dormouse

Graphiurus microtis

French: Loir a oreilles courtes / German: Kleinohrbilch / Spanish: Liron de Noack

Other common names: Large Savanna African Dormouse, Small-eared African Dormouse, Small-eared Dormouse, Woodland Dormouse

Taxonomy. Eliomys microtis Noack, 1887 ,

Qua Mpala, Marungu, Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Placed in the subgenus Graphiurus . The type specimen of G. microtis has been lost, although illustrations of cranium, lower Jaw, and cheekteeth and tooth row measurements provided by T. Noack in 1887 in his original description, agree with morphology of the medium-sized savanna dormouse that inhabits surrounding mopane ( Brachystegia ) woodland. In 1939, G. M. Allen listed this savanna-dwelling dormouse under G. murinus murinus . In 1940, J. R.

Ellerman listed G. microtis within the G. murinus group, indicating that the taxon did not warrant specific status, and consequently in 1953 Ellerman and colleagues listed this dormouse as a subspecies, G. murinus microtis . W. F. H. Ansell in 1960 and 1978, X. Misonne in 1974, and H. Genest-Villard in 1978 followed this arrangement. Ansell later in 1989 considered G. microtis to be a valid species based on morphological and ecological differences, a position endorsed and expanded upon by M. E. Holden in 1993, 2005, and 2013. Due to the fact that many authors did not historically recognize G. macrotis as a valid species, data given in their reports are thus composite for both species; when such publications are cited herein, only sections relevant to G. microtis as outlined in this account are pertinent. Two or more separate species are almost certainly contained within this taxon. For example, chromosome differences points to divergence of populations; chromosome number of 2n = 46 was reported from a South African population by D. N. McFadyen via personal communication, but a karyotype of 2n = 52 was provisionally assigned to specimens collected on the Nyika Plateau, Malawi, by W. N. Chitaukali and colleagues in 2001 and H. Burda and W. N. Chitaukali in 2006, who indicated that the Nyika Plateau population likely represents a different species. An integrative revision incorporating molecular sampling, morphological, and other data is required to definitively determine which names apply to which populations over the vast geographic range. Synonymies and distributions of Holden 2005 and 2013 are followed; precise geographical limits have yet to be determined in certain areas. Late Quaternary fossils of G. microtis have been recorded from central Zambia by D. M. Avery in 1996 and in Northern Cape Province, South Africa, by Avery and G. Avery in 2011. Monotypic.

Distribution. Sub-Saharan Africa, in N Cameroon, SW Chad, E & W Sudan, Eritrea and C Ethiopia, S through East Africa and parts of E Central Africa to extreme E & SE Angola, NW Namibia, Botswana, and N South Africa and Swaziland.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 75-115 mm, tail 62-86 mm, ear 13-21 mm, hindfoot 14-20 mm; weight 17-6-42-5 g. No sexual dimorphism reported. Dorsal pelage of Noack’s African Dormouse is medium brown, beige, or gray, sometimes darker with golden or reddish hue, or sometimes pale; some individuals have darkening of pelage toward midline due to coalescence of guard hairs; texture is usually sleek but thick and somewhat piled in some populations (rump hairs 6-8 mm, guard hairs up to 13 mm). Ventral pelage is usually white or cream, slightly or moderately suffused with gray. Head color matches that of dorsal pelage, sometimes paler toward muzzle. Cheeks are cream or white, forming part of pale lateral stripe that extends from cheeks to shoulders. Dorsal and ventral pelage colors are clearly delineated. Eyes are large, and eye mask is conspicuous. Ears are brown, medium or large, and rounded, with cream or white post-auricular patches present. Hindfeet are white, or white with dark metatarsal streak c.17% of head-body length. Tail is moderately long, ¢.76% of head-body length; hairs are shorter at base, 5-8 mm, and longer at tip, up to 26 mm. Tail color generally matches that of dorsal pelage; white hairs are usually mixed throughouttail, and tip is usually conspicuously white. Skull is moderately long, usually with relatively long incisive foramina and relatively large auditory bullae. Greatest length of skull is 25-5-29-1 mm, zygomatic breadth is 13-9-16-2 mm, and upper tooth row length is 2:9-3-4 mm. External and cranial measurements listed are from Zimbabwe specimens. Chromosome number 2n = 46 reported from north-eastern South Africa. Females have four pairs of nipples (I pectoral + | abdominal + 2 inguinal = 8).

Habitat. Usually associated with woodland savanna habitats from sea level to elevations of ¢.1400 m, within the following biotic zones: widespread in Zambezian Woodland, with extensions into parts of Eastern Raiforest-Savanna Mosaic, Guinea Savanna, and Sudan Savanna ecoregions. Noack’s African Dormice occur in woodland savanna, riverine woodland, rocky areas, disturbed areas, and human dwellings. Individuals have been captured in or near aloes, willows, upaca (Uapaca kirkiana, Euphorbiaceae ), several trees in the pea family such as thorn ( Acacia sp. ), camel thorn (A. erioloba giraffae), Zambezian teak or mukusi ( Baikiaea sp. ), mopane ( Colophospermum mopane), miombo ( Brachystegia sp. ), and seringa ( Burkea sp. ), and leadwood (Conbretum imberbe, Combretaceae ), palms ( Hyphaene sp. ), and buffalo thorn ( Ziziphus mucronata, Rhamnaceae ). They have also been found in tall grass near shrubs and trees and piles of debris deposited by high floods near seasonally dry rivers. Individuals have been observed on a vertical rock face at the entrance of a cave situated on a rocky hillside and captured among rocks in or near caves and on rocky slopes. Noack’s African Dormouse is also common in disturbed areas, including buildings, fields, gardens, and near rubbish dumps.

Food and Feeding. Noack’s African Dormouse is probably omnivorous. Stomach contents have included remnants of buffalo thorn fruits; seeds of thorn trees; and insects including large moths, rose beetles, millipedes (Doratogonusflavifilis), and a small bird.

Breeding. Litter sizes of Noack’s African Dormice are 3-7 young. Three to four embryos or young are most often reported. In Uganda, a pregnant female was captured in November, and two lactating females were captured in August. In Malawi, a pregnant female was collected in October. In Botswana, a pregnant female was obtained in April. In Zimbabwe, pregnant females have been collected in February, April, June, and November-December.

Activity patterns. Noack’s African Dormice are probably nocturnal and have been known to hibernate during cold months in Namibia.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Noack’s African Dormice are primarily arboreal, partly terrestrial, and probably solitary, except lactating females that are often caught with young. Although published faunal surveys have not estimated densities Noack’s African Dormouse is locally common throughout much ofits distribution. A recent study in southern Ethiopia found them to be one ofthe least common rodent species, with an estimated density of 0-51 ind/ha; individuals were identified as the Forest African Dormouse but likely were Noack’s African Dormouse based on location and habitat data. Densities in south-western Tanzania were likewise reported as low in 2005 by R. H. Makundi and colleagues, again as originally reported for the Forest African Dormouse. In Malawi, Ansell and R. J. Dowsett in 1988 found Noack’s African Dormouse to be the most frequently encountered dormouse and stated thatit is widely distributed. Noack’s African Dormice frequently nest in crevices under bark or in holes in savanna trees. Entrances to most nesting holes are circular and are commonly situated 1-3 m aboveground, although some have been found up to 6 m. Nests are composed of soft plant material or grass and sometimes feathers. Nests located in aloe plants, in a cave, and among rocks have been recorded in rocky habitats. Abandoned birds’ nests are sometimes used; one individual was found inside the nest of a lesser striped swallow (Cecropis abyssinica) under a large rock; the nest contained feathers, wood debris, grass and scales from a snake. Several adults and young have been found in nests of weaver birds, in huts and houses, often in thatched roofs, sometimes in pantries or even in switch boxes of water pumps or transformers where they have caused short circuits in electrical supplies. Nesting information for this species is sometimeslisted by authors as pertaining to the Forest African Dormouse or another species, but attributable to Noack’s African Dormouse.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. Noack’s African Dormice has large distribution and presumably a large population; it occurs in several protected areas and seems to tolerate habitat modification; populations are probably not declining fast enough to qualify for a more threatened category. Population status was classified as unknown, with annotation that the species is probably common. Noack’s African Dormouse may be uncommon in certain parts ofits distribution, such as southern Ethiopia. If future systematic revisions reveal that certain populations of Noack’s African Dormouse represent valid species, as is likely, their conservation status will need to be reassessed.

Bibliography. Addisu & Bekele (2015), Allen, G.M. (1939), Ansell (1960, 1974, 1978, 1989), Ansell & Dowsett (1988), Avenant (1997), Avery (1996), Avery & Avery (2011), Burda & Chitaukali (2006), Chitaukali et al. (2001), Coosemans (1948), De Graaff (1981), Ellerman (1940), Ellerman et al. (1953), Fitzherbert et al. (2007), Genest-Villard (1978), Happold & Lock (2013), Holden (1993, 1996b, 2005, 2013), Makundi et al. (2005), Misonne (1965, 1974), Misonne & Verschuren (1966), Musser & Carleton (2005), Noack (1887), Pienaar et al. (1980), Rautenbach (1982), Roberts (1917), Schlitter & Grubb (2008b), Sheppe & Haas (1981), Shortridge (1934a), Skinner & Chimimba (2005), Smithers (1971, 1983), Smithers & Tello (1976), Smithers & Wilson (1979), Taylor (1998), Taylor et al. (1994), Wilson (1975).

Figures

Distribution. Sub-Saharan Africa, in N Cameroon, SW Chad, E & W Sudan, Eritrea and C Ethiopia, S through East Africa and parts of E Central Africa to extreme E & SE Angola, NW Namibia, Botswana, and N South Africa and Swaziland.