Ethiopian vlei rat

The Ethiopian vlei rat (Otomys typus) is a species of vlei rat in the rodent family Muridae. It is found only in Ethiopia and is considered endemic.

Typical vlei rat
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Muridae
Genus: Otomys
Species:
O. typus
Binomial name
Otomys typus
(Heuglin, 1877)
Synonyms

Oreomys typus Heuglin, 1877

Taxonomy

Heuglin (1877) initially described the species under the name Oreomys typus.[1][2] This species classification and that of the genus Otomys varied extremely throughout the years. Taylor et al. (2011) revised the history of this species and part of the genus in itself. Otomys typus previously contained, as subspecies or synonyms, numerous current-day species, such as :

Furthermore, the 2011 revision of this species-group distinguished 4 species inside O. typus and in Ethiopia :

  • Otomys typus
  • Otomys cheesmani sp. nov - Cheesman's vlei rat (Taylor, Lavrenchenko, Carleton, Verheyen, Bennett, Oosthuizen & Maree, 2011)
  • Otomys simiensis sp. nov - Simien vlei rat (Taylor, Lavrenchenko, Carleton, Verheyen, Bennett, Oosthuizen & Maree, 2011)
  • Otomys yaldeni sp. nov - Yalden's vlei rat (Taylor, Lavrenchenko, Carleton, Verheyen, Bennett, Oosthuizen & Maree, 2011).[2][1]

Habitat

Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, subtropical or tropical high-altitude shrubland, and subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland.[1]

Conservation

It is said to be common.[1]

References

  1. Taylor, P.J.; Relton, C. (2021). "Otomys typus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T48006730A22395699. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T48006730A22395699.en.
  2. 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.
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