Massoutiera mzabi

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

Bibliography

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	MAMMALIA	RODENTIA	CTENODACTYLIDAE

Scientific Name:

Massoutiera mzabi

Species Authority:

(Lataste, 1881)

Common Name/s:

English

–

Mzab Gundi

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Least Concern ver 3.1

Year Assessed:

2008

Assessor/s:

Aulagnier, S.

Reviewer/s:

Amori, G. (Small Nonvolant Mammal Red List Authority) & Temple, H. (Global Mammal Assessment Team)

Justification:
Listed as Least Concern because, it is thought to be reasonably common throughout its wide distribution range (and in protected areas), and no evidence of any major threats to the species.

History:

2004	–	Least Concern
1996	–	Lower Risk/least concern (Baillie and Groombridge 1996)

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This species occurs on the central Sahara regions of Algeria (Tassili n'Ajiers, Hoggar, Tefedest and Mouydir), and around the plateau of Tademait and the Mzab Valley. It is also present in northeastern Mali, northern Niger, and northwestern Chad. The species was reported from Libya by Wilson and Reeder (2005). It inhabits montane regions and high plateaux of Algeria, from 500 to 2,300 m asl.
Countries:	Native: Algeria; Chad; Mali; Niger Presence uncertain: Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	There is little known about the population of this species, but it is generally thought to be fairly common throughout its range. Colonies are apparently widely dispersed, and population densities of less than 1 per ha have been given (Nowak, 1999).
Population Trend:	Unknown

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It is only found in rocky habitats, where it lives in rock fissures. Colonies are generally situated on the slopes of mountains or on the borders of wadis. According to Kowalsi and Rzebik-Kowalska (1991), the terrain in which this species is found usually has a relatively rich vegetation cover, which develops in places where water accumulates during rains. The species is diurnal, and solitary, but pairs come together to breed. Of five litters studied, four had two young each, while the fifth had five young. There are two litters a year.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

It is only found in rocky habitats, where it lives in rock fissures. Colonies are generally situated on the slopes of mountains or on the borders of wadis. According to Kowalsi and Rzebik-Kowalska (1991), the terrain in which this species is found usually has a relatively rich vegetation cover, which develops in places where water accumulates during rains. The species is diurnal, and solitary, but pairs come together to breed. Of five litters studied, four had two young each, while the fifth had five young. There are two litters a year.

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	While there are no major threats to this species the overgrazing of vegetation could be a potential threat. Extended periods of drought could also be a threat, as the species apparently shows limited physiological adaptation to its arid environment, requiring plants with more than 50% water content, and relying on its behavioural patterns to avoid dry conditions.

Major Threat(s):

While there are no major threats to this species the overgrazing of vegetation could be a potential threat. Extended periods of drought could also be a threat, as the species apparently shows limited physiological adaptation to its arid environment, requiring plants with more than 50% water content, and relying on its behavioural patterns to avoid dry conditions.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	The species is recorded from a number of protected areas, including the massive Hoggar - Massif National Park, Algeria.

Conservation Actions:

The species is recorded from a number of protected areas, including the massive Hoggar - Massif National Park, Algeria.

Bibliography [top]

	Kowalski, K. and Rzebik-Kowalska, B. 1991. Mammals of Algeria. Institute of Systematics and Evolution of Animals, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland. Nowak, R. M. 1999. Walker's Mammals of the World. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, USA and London, UK. Wilson, D. E. and Reeder, D. M. 2005. Mammal Species of the World. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, MD, USA.

Kowalski, K. and Rzebik-Kowalska, B. 1991. Mammals of Algeria. Institute of Systematics and Evolution of Animals, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland.

Nowak, R. M. 1999. Walker's Mammals of the World. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, USA and London, UK.

Wilson, D. E. and Reeder, D. M. 2005. Mammal Species of the World. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, MD, USA.

Citation:	Aulagnier, S. 2008. Massoutiera mzabi. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 10 February 2012.
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