Otomys irroratus

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	MAMMALIA	RODENTIA	MURIDAE

Scientific Name:

Otomys irroratus

Species Authority:

(Brants, 1827)

Common Name/s:

English

–

Southern African Vlei Rat, Vlei Rat

Taxonomic Notes:

This may be a species complex. There are four distinct chromosomal forms which may prove to be separate species (Taylor 2000).

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Least Concern ver 3.1

Year Assessed:

2008

Assessor/s

Taylor, P.J., Maree, S. & Monadjem, A.

Evaluator/s:

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

Justification:
Listed as Least Concern because it is relatively widespread, it is common, and its population is not believed to be in decline at present. Additional taxonomic studies might reveal this taxon to be comprised of several species for which a review of the Red List Assessment will be necessary.

History:

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

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This species is known from coastal and eastern South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland, and the eastern highlands of Zimbabwe and into neighbouring areas of Mozambique. It is known from above 900 m asl.
Countries:	Native: Lesotho; Mozambique; South Africa; Swaziland; Zimbabwe
Range Map:	(click map to view full version)

Population [top]

Population:	It is a common species.
Population Trend:	Stable

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It is known from grassland and marshes, as well as timber plantations.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	There are no major threats to this species at present.

Major Threat(s):

There are no major threats to this species at present.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	The range of the species includes several protected areas.

Conservation Actions:

The range of the species includes several protected areas.

Citation:	Taylor, P.J., Maree, S. & Monadjem, A. 2008. Otomys irroratus. In: IUCN 2009. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2009.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 09 February 2010.
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