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 Sudanian grass rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found in Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal, possibly Benin, possibly Ivory Coast, possibly Ghana, possibly Guinea, and possibly Togo. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, subtropical or tropical moist shrubland, subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland, subtropical or tropical seasonally wet or flooded lowland grassland, arable land, pastureland, rural gardens, irrigated land, seasonally flooded agricultural land, and canals and ditches.
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 Southern African vlei rat is a species of rodent in the vlei rat genus, Otomys, of the family Muridae in the order Rodentia. This is the type species of the genus. It is native to the grasslands and swamps of southern Africa where it is a common species.
The Mount Elgon 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 grassland. It is threatened by habitat loss.
The Tanzanian vlei rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found in Kenya, Malawi, and Tanzania. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland and swamps. It is threatened by habitat loss.
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 large vlei rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found in Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Namibia, and Zambia. Its natural habitats are moist savanna, subtropical or tropical seasonally wet or flooded lowland 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.
Sloggett's vlei rat or ice rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found in southern Lesotho and South Africa where its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland, swamps, and rocky areas. Its name commemorates Col. Arthur Sloggett who served in South Africa and collected at Deelfontein in 1902. This is a common species and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated it as being of "least concern".
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 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.
