Muridae
Author
Don E. Wilson
Author
Russell A. Mittermeier
Author
Thomas E. Lacher, Jr
text
2017
2017-11-30
Lynx Edicions
Barcelona
Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 7 Rodents II
536
884
book chapter
100954
10.5281/zenodo.6887260
a016af63-6437-427b-80b7-22bc9a002e20
978-84-16728-04-6
6887260
125.
Harwood’s Gerbil
Gerbillus harwoodi
French:
Gerbille de Harwood
/
German:
Harwood-Rennmaus
/
Spanish:
Gerbillo de Harwood
Other common names:
Harwood's Dipodil
Taxonomy.
Gerbillus harwoodi Thomas, 1901
,
Lake Naivasha, Kenya.
Gerbillus harwoodi
was listed as
Dipodillus
harwoodi
by G. G.Musser and M. D. Car- leton in 2005, but molecular study by A. Abiadh and colleagues in 2010 demonstrated that genus
Dipodillus
is not valid. This species’ relationship with
G. bottai
was discussed by I. Ya. Pavlinov and coworkers in 1990. Monotypic.
Distribution.
SC Kenya and NC Tanzania.
Descriptive notes.
LL rin mm, tail 85-112 mm, ear 9-10 mm, hindfoot 19-25 mm; weight 14 g. Harwood’s Gerbil is a small gerbil with orange-brown dorsal pelage, and pure white ventral pelage sharply delineated on flanks. Feet are white and have naked sole. Tail is long (125% of head—body length), with well-developed pencil of black hairs at tip. Tympanic bullae are large (35% of maximum length of skull).
Habitat.
Dry savannas and grasslands in
Acacia (Fabaceae)
savanna.
Food and Feeding.
No information.
Breeding.
A pregnant female with four embryos was found (June) in Kenya.
Activity patterns.
Harwood’s Gerbil is nocturnal and lives in deep burrows.
Movements, Home range and Social organization.
No information.
Status and Conservation.
Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. Harwood’s Gerbil appears to be locally abundant.
Bibliography.
Abiadh, Chétoui et al. (2010), Lay (1983), Monadjem et al. (2015), Musser & Carleton (2005), Pavlinov et al. (1990).