Otomys typus

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 typus

Species Authority:

(Heuglin, 1877)

Common Name/s:

English

–

Typical Vlei Rat

Synonym/s:

Otomys dartmouthi Thomas, 1906

Otomys jacksoni Thomas, 1891

Otomys uzungwensis Lawrence & Loveridge, 1953

Taxonomic Notes:

This is a species complex potentially comprising at least six species (L. Lavrenchenko pers. comm.).

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Least Concern ver 3.1

Year Published:

2008

Assessor/s:

Taylor, P.J., Maree, S., Lavrenchenko, L., Kerbis Peterhans, J. & Chitaukali, W.

Reviewer/s:

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

Contributor/s:

Justification:
Listed as Least Concern because it has a relatively wide distribution, it is quite common, and its population is not believed to be declining fast enough to qualify for a more threatened category. 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

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This montane species has been recorded from the Ethiopian highlands (1,900 to 4,100 m asl); Mubuku Valley, in the Ruwenzori Mountains of Uganda (at around 3,300 to 3,900 m asl); the Ugandan and Kenyan slopes of Mount Elgon (between 3,300 and 4,200 m asl) and the Udzungwa Mountains in east-central Tanzania and the Nyika Plateau in northern Malawi and possibly north-eastern Zambia (between 1,800 and 2,200 m asl).
Countries:	Native: Ethiopia; Kenya; Malawi; Tanzania, United Republic of; Uganda
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	A reasonably common species in good habitat.
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It inhabits mesic grassland, montane grasslands and alpine heaths. The species does not appear to persist in modified habitats, although more research is needed to confirm this.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	This species is threatened in parts of its range by overgrazing of its habitat by domestic livestock, habitat loss resulting from set fires, the development of tourism infrastructure, and the conversion of grassland to agricultural use.

Major Threat(s):

This species is threatened in parts of its range by overgrazing of its habitat by domestic livestock, habitat loss resulting from set fires, the development of tourism infrastructure, and the conversion of grassland to agricultural use.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	It is present in a number of protected areas, including the the Bale Mountains National Park and the Simien Mountains National Park (Ethiopia), Ruwenzori National Park (Uganda), Mount Elgon National Park (Kenya), and several protected areas in Tanzania. Additional studies are needed into the taxonomic relationship between populations currently allocated to Otomys typus.

Conservation Actions:

It is present in a number of protected areas, including the the Bale Mountains National Park and the Simien Mountains National Park (Ethiopia), Ruwenzori National Park (Uganda), Mount Elgon National Park (Kenya), and several protected areas in Tanzania. Additional studies are needed into the taxonomic relationship between populations currently allocated to Otomys typus.

Citation:	Taylor, P.J., Maree, S., Lavrenchenko, L., Kerbis Peterhans, J. & Chitaukali, W. 2008. Otomys typus. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 20 June 2013.
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