| Cheesman's vlei rat | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Muridae |
| Genus: | Otomys |
| Species: | O. cheesmani |
| Binomial name | |
| Otomys cheesmani Taylor, Lavrenchenko, Carleton, Verheyen, Bennett, Oosthuizen & Maree, 2011 [2] | |
The Cheesman's vlei rat (Otomys cheesmani) [1] [3] is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is considered endemic to northwestern Ethiopia. [1]
It is possibly extinct and only known from two localities in Ethiopia, hence the assessment of the species as "Critically endangered" by the IUCN. [1] Surveys done in 2012 and 2018 found no individuals of the species. [1]
The Old World rats and mice, part of the subfamily Murinae in the family Muridae, comprise at least 519 species. Members of this subfamily are called murines. In terms of species richness, this subfamily is larger than all mammal families except the Cricetidae and Muridae, and is larger than all mammal orders except the bats and the remainder of the rodents.
African vlei rats (Otomys), also known as groove-toothed rats, live in many areas of sub-Saharan Africa. Most species live in marshlands, grasslands, and similar habitats and feed on the vegetation of such areas, occasionally supplementing it with roots and seeds. The name "vlei" refers to the South African term for intermittent, seasonal, or perennial bodies of standing water.
The Angolan vlei rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found only in Angola. Its natural habitats are dry savanna, moist savanna, and subtropical or tropical seasonally wet or flooded lowland grassland. It is threatened by habitat loss.
The Angoni vlei rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found in Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Eswatini, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Barbour's vlei rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found in Kenya and Uganda. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical high-altitude shrubland. It is threatened by habitat loss.
Burton's vlei rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found only in Cameroon. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical high-altitude shrubland, subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland, and swamps. It is threatened by habitat loss.
The Cuanza vlei rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found only in Angola. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland and swampland.
The Ruwenzori vlei rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found only in Uganda. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland.
Dent's vlei rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found in Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, subtropical or tropical high-altitude shrubland, and subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland. It is threatened by habitat loss.
Dollman's vlei rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found only in Kenya. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland and swamps. It is threatened by habitat loss. Some authorities, including the IUCN, regard it as a synonym of Otomys tropicalis.
The laminate vlei rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found only in South Africa. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland and swamps.
The western vlei rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found in Cameroon and Nigeria. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland and swamps. It is threatened by habitat loss.
Saunder's vlei rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found only in South Africa. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation, and subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland.
The tropical vlei rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found in Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, and Uganda. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical seasonally wet or flooded lowland grassland, subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland, swamps, and plantations.
The Ethiopian vlei rat is a species of vlei rat in the rodent family Muridae. It is found only in Ethiopia and is considered endemic. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, subtropical or tropical high-altitude shrubland, and subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland. It is threatened by habitat loss.
The bush vlei rat or Karoo bush rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found in Namibia and South Africa. Its natural habitat is temperate shrubland. The Karoo rat uses behavioral adaptations to cope with the dry arid climate. It is a medium-sized rodent with a dark pelage on top and lighter underneath. It has light colored feet and a dark tail. The rat may have light colored fur around its eyes and the back of its ears.
The Uzungwe vlei rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found in Malawi, Tanzania, and Zambia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland and swamps. It is threatened by habitat loss.
Waiomys is a genus of rodents from the family Muridae. It is endemic to Sulawesi, Indonesia. The genus is monotypic, consisting of the species Waiomys mamasae. It is known only from Mount Gandangdewata, Mamasa Regency, West Sulawesi.
The Simien vlei rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found in northern Ethiopia.
The Yalden's vlei rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found in the Bale Mountains, in southwestern Ethiopia.
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