| Hildegarde's broad-headed mouse | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Muridae |
| Genus: | Zelotomys |
| Species: | Z. hildegardeae |
| Binomial name | |
| Zelotomys hildegardeae (Thomas, 1902) | |
 | |
| Synonyms [2] | |
| |
Hildegarde's broad-headed mouse (Zelotomys hildegardeae) or Hildegarde's zelotomys [1] is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found in Central Africa.
This mouse was first described in 1902 by the British zoologist Oldfield Thomas. The specific name "hildegardeae" was given in honour of the British anthropologist Hildegarde Beatrice Hinde, who spent twenty-four years in Africa with her husband Sidney Langford Hinde, a colonial administrator; she studied East African languages, writing several grammars and vocabularies. [3]
Hildegarde's broad-headed mouse grows to a head-and-body length of about 125 mm (5 in). The head is broad with pale grey to white cheeks and whitish chin and throat. The whiskers are dark and the ears are dark and nearly naked, with a scattering of pale hairs. The fur is dense and soft; the dorsal surface of the head and body is greyish-brown or grey and the underparts are whitish or pale greyish-brown, the two colours merging on the flanks. The limbs are whitish, the feet sometimes having pale brown upper surfaces. The tail is about 70% of the head-and-body length; it bears rings of small scales and is scantily haired, with short white or greyish-brown hairs. This mouse produces a strong, unpleasant odour which may deter predators. [4]
This mouse is endemic to tropical Central Africa. Its range extends from Angola, northern Zambia and southern Democratic Republic of the Congo, eastwards to Tanzania, and northwards to Uganda, Kenya and South Sudan. Individuals recorded in southern Angola were probably the closely related Woosnam's broad-headed mouse (Zelotomys woosnami). Its typical habitat is moist savanna, tall grassland and scrub, often at the edge of swamps or forests. It is often found in areas of Imperata cylindrica grassland. [4] In northern Malawi it has been recorded in pine plantations and in close proximity to human habitations. Its altitudinal range is unknown. [1]
This mouse is a partially diurnal [2] and nocturnal species, and in captivity, is active throughout the night. It forages on the ground under cover of the long grasses and foliage and feeds mainly on arthropods, such as grasshoppers and crickets, dung beetles, other insects and myriapods, with some fruit. It communicates with other individuals by making high-pitched whistles. Despite its strong smell, it is preyed on by small carnivores. In Kenya, pregnant females have been found in June and November, while in Uganda, they have been found in February, March, May, June and July. The litter size is usually between three and seven. [4]
Hildegarde's broad-headed mouse has a very wide range but is nowhere particularly common. No specific threats have been identified and the mouse is present in a number of protected areas, so the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as being of "least concern". [1]
The white-tailed rat also known as the white-tailed mouse, is the only member of the subfamily Mystromyinae in the family Nesomyidae. This species is sometimes placed in the subfamily Cricetinae due to similarities in appearance between the white-tailed rat and hamsters, but molecular phylogenetic studies have confirmed that the two groups are not closely related. The subfamily Mystromyinae is sometimes placed within the family Muridae along with all other subfamilies of muroids.
Zelotomys is a genus of rodents in the subfamily Murinae, the Old World rats and mice. They are known commonly as the broad-headed mice. They are native to Africa.
The Zulu serotine, also called the Zulu pipistrelle, aloe bat, or aloe serotine, is a species of vesper bat found in Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, South Sudan, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Its natural habitats are savanna and hot deserts.
The West African shaggy rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found in Benin, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical seasonally wet or flooded lowland grassland and swamps. It is a common species and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated its conservation status as being of "least concern".
The montane hylomyscus or montane wood mouse is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. A long-coated species with brownish-grey upper parts and whitish-grey underparts, it occurs in the uplands of tropical Central Africa where its natural habitat is tropical moist montane forests.
The Mount Oku hylomyscus is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. Found only on Mount Oku, Cameroon, in tropical Central Africa, its natural habitat is tropical moist montane forests. It has a very small range and is threatened by habitat destruction, so the International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated its conservation status as being "critically endangered".
Lemniscomys linulus, commonly known as the Senegal grass mouse or Senegal one-striped grass mouse, is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found in Ivory Coast, Guinea, Mali, and Senegal and its natural habitat is dry savanna. At one time considered to be a subspecies of Lemniscomys griselda, it is now accepted as a species in its own right.
Mittendorf's lemniscomys or Mittendorf's striped grass mouse is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is endemic to Cameroon where it is found at high elevations on a single mountain. Its natural habitat is tropical high-altitude grassland. It faces no particular threats and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has listed it as being of "least concern".
The Ethiopian forest brush-furred rat or golden-footed brush-furred rat, is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is endemic to Ethiopia where its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.
Brants's whistling rat or Brants' whistling rat is one of two species of murid rodent in the genus Parotomys. It is found in Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa where its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry shrubland and pastureland. It was first described in 1834 by the Scottish zoologist Andrew Smith who named it in honour of the Dutch zoologist and author Anton Brants.
Boehm's gerbil is a species of rodent found in Angola, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. Its natural habitats are dry savanna, moist savanna, and arable land. This is a common species with a wide distribution which faces no obvious threats, so in 2004 the International Union for Conservation of Nature rated its conservation status as being of "least concern".
The highveld gerbil is a species of rodent found in Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Eswatini, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Its natural habitats are dry savanna, temperate shrubland, subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, temperate grassland, and temperate desert. This is a common species with a wide range and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated it as being of "least concern" as of 2008.
The gracile tateril or slender gerbil is a species of rodent found in Burkina Faso, Chad, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Togo, and possibly Cameroon. Its natural habitats are dry savanna, arable land, pastureland, and rural gardens. It is a common species, sometimes considered an agricultural pest, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated its conservation status as being of "least concern".
Hildegarde's tomb bat is a species of sac-winged bat in the family Emballonuridae. It is found near the coast in Kenya and Tanzania where it feeds in tropical dry forests and roosts in caves. It is a diurnal species and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as "endangered". The specific name hildegardeae was given in honour of anthropologist Hildegarde Beatrice Hinde.
The woodland dormouse is a species of rodent in the family Gliridae. It is native to southern and eastern Africa and is also known as the African dormouse, African dwarf dormouse, African pygmy dormouse, or colloquially as micro squirrel. Found in limited numbers in the pet trade, it has complicated care requirements compared to other pet rodents. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical, moist montane forests and rivers.
Alexander's bush squirrel is a species of squirrel native to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. It is arboreal and lives in tropical moist forests, especially undisturbed mature forests. It is a common species with a wide range, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated it as being of "least concern". Its common name and Latin binomial commemorate Lieutenant Boyd Alexander, a British Army officer, explorer and ornithologist.
Hildegarde's shrew is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae. It is found in Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, and Tanzania. Considered by some authorities to be a subspecies of Crocidura gracilipes, it is now recognised as a separate species, with a diploid chromosome number of 2n = 52. This is one of three species of small mammal named by the British zoologist Oldfield Thomas in honour of anthropologist Hildegarde Beatrice Hinde.
The Abyssinian hare is a species of mammal in the family Leporidae. It is almost entirely restricted to the nations of the Horn of Africa, though it extends marginally into eastern Sudan and may also occur in far northern Kenya.
The tantalus monkey is an Old World monkey from Africa that ranges from Ghana to Sudan. It was originally described as a subspecies of the grivet. All species in Chlorocebus were formerly in the genus Cercopithecus. It is a common species with a wide range, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated its conservation status as being of "least concern".
Hildegarde Beatrice Hinde was an English writer and linguist. She wrote two books about East African languages and collaborated with her husband, Sidney Langford Hinde, on a book about the Maasai people. She is commemorated in the names of three African mammals.
