Acacia rat
Acacia rat ( Thallomys paedulcus )
The Acacia rat ( Thallomys paedulcus ) or African acacia rat is an occurring mainly in southeastern Africa rodent species. It is named from the acacia tree on which it lives mainly.
Description
The acacia rat reached a total length of 31 cm and an average weight of 81 grams. Length and weight are highly variable depending on habitat, females are slightly smaller and lighter. The tail is as long as or slightly longer than the head-body length. The top is light gray to yellowish gray. The hair of the soft fur have yellowish-brown tips. The acacia rat appears significantly darker than the similar style T. nigricauda. Chin, throat and belly are all pure white, the color goes over the flanks gradually over the color of the top. The backs of the hands and feet are short dense coat and also white. The tail is brown and relatively densely hairy dark to black.
The acacia rat falls through a black "mask", which extends from the snout to the eyes. However, it is less pronounced than in T. nigricauda. The large, wide ears are brown and are available from the head.
Distribution and habitat
The main distribution area of acacia rat is located in southeastern Africa. In sub-Saharan Africa, their presence from southern Ethiopia and southern Somalia in the north to East Africa, the southern parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola and Zambia extends over the greater part. From Zambia from it occurs south to north-eastern South Africa and Swaziland. Acacia Rats are found in forests, wooded savannas and acacia bushland.
Way of life
Acacia Rats are shy, nocturnal, arboreal ( tree-dwelling ) animals. They live in small communities, mostly in pairs, with the last offspring and other young animals. Up to eight animals inhabit a built in crotches nest in the tops of acacia trees or tree holes.
Food
Acacia Rats are primarily herbivores. A large part of their food make fresh leaves, the tips of branches, the seeds and fruit of various species of acacia. They also eat young leaves of shepherds trees ( Boscia albitrunca ) and Ziziphus mucronata of. Occasionally, they take on even insects or carnal food. Some populations that live far from water points, come from without drinking water.
Reproduction
Acacia Rats bring in the summer two to five pups per litter born.
Taxonomy
Meester et al. (1964 ) accepted Thallomys paedulcus the only species of the genus Thallomys with four subspecies ( T. p. Paedulcus, T. p. Nigricauda, T. p. Shortridgei and T. p. Damarensis ). Gordon (1987 ) finished chromosomally the recognition of the two, in his opinion parapatric common species Thallomys paedulcus and Thallomys nigricauda. Taylor et al. (1995 ) supported the existence of two types, but the spread did not see clearly demarcated but broadly sympatric overlap. The two species are diploid, the chromosome number is 2n = 43-46 for Thallomys paedulcus and 2n = 47-50 for Thallomys nigricauda. Maybe Thallomys presented paedulcus a Artkomplex several similar species, to clarify their taxonomic status, further studies are necessary.