Charada vlei rat
Charada vlei rat (Otomys fortior) is a species of rodent in the family of Muridae. It is endemic to southwestern Ethiopia.[1][3]
| Charada vlei rat | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Muridae |
| Genus: | Otomys |
| Species: | O. fortior |
| Binomial name | |
| Otomys fortior | |
Taxonomy
Thomas (1906) initially described this species under the name Otomys typus fortior. It was then elevated to species status by Dollmann (1915). It was again re-included under O. typus (Ethiopian vlei rat) in the classification by Allen in 1939. Taylor et al. (2011) would be moved back Otomys fortior to species status, arguing that the biogeographical and ecological separation of the species from the other members of the genus in the region was sufficient.[4][1]
Conservation
It is known from less than 10 locations in Ethiopia and its population is suggested to be declining as well as its habitat, hence the assessment of the species as "Vulnerable" by the IUCN.[1]
References
- Taylor, P.; Relton, C. (2021). "Otomys fortior". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T48009551A48010683. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T48009551A48010683.en.
- Thomas, Oldfield (October 1906). "XLI.— New mammals collected in North-East Africa by Mr. Zaphiro, and presented to the British Museum by W. N. M c Millan, Esq" (PDF). Annals and Magazine of Natural History. 18 (106): 300–306. doi:10.1080/00222930608562614. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
- "Otomys fortior". ASM Mammal Diversity Database. American Society of Mammalogists. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
- Taylor, Peter J.; Lavrenchenko, Leonid A.; Carleton, Michael D.; Verheyen, Erik; Bennett, Nigel C.; Oosthuizen, Carel J.; Maree, Sarita (13 September 2011). "Specific limits and emerging diversity patterns in East African populations of laminate-toothed rats, genus Otomys (Muridae: Murinae: Otomyini): Revision of the Otomys typus complex" (PDF). Zootaxa. 3024 (1): 1–66. doi:10.11646/ZOOTAXA.3024.1.1. S2CID 59381852. Retrieved 20 February 2023.