Petromus typicus

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	MAMMALIA	RODENTIA	PETROMURIDAE

Scientific Name:

Petromus typicus

Species Authority:

A. Smith, 1831

Common Name/s:

English

–

Dassie Rat

Taxonomic Notes:

Fourteen subspecies have been identified, and this is almost certainly a species complex.

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Least Concern ver 3.1

Year Assessed:

2008

Assessor/s

Griffin, M. & Coetzee, N.

Evaluator/s:

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

Justification:
Listed as Least Concern in view of its wide distribution, presumed large population, it occurs in a number of protected areas, and because it is unlikely to be declining fast enough to qualify for listing in a more threatened category.

History:

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

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This species is generally confined to the arid and semi-arid regions of southwestern Angola, Namibia and northern Namaqualand in South Africa. Coetzee (2002) gave the range as from 16 deg S to 12 E in southwestern Angola to 30 deg S to 18 deg E in Namaqualand. In northern central Namaqualand, the species occurs up to 1,200 m asl, but apparently does not ascend to the cloudy Eselfontein Plateau nor to the summits of the highest peaks (Shortridge 1942), which, as Coetzee (2002) explains, is due to colder and wetter nature of the plateau than the area inhabited to the northwest. In Angola, the species is absent from the semi-tropical western escarpment, and from the more moist savanna in the central parts of the country (Coetzee 2002).
Countries:	Native: Angola; Namibia; South Africa
Range Map:	(click map to view full version)

Population [top]

Population:	Relatively common where they occur. There are no published population densities.
Population Trend:	Stable

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	The species is largely confined to the western escarpment and adjoining mountainous areas, as well as inselbergs on the pro-Namib plains of Angola and Namibia. The Namib dunes and the very arid unvegetated mountains and plains west of the 50-mm isohyet restrict their spread westwards, while the Kalahari sands limit their spread east. The largest part of the distribution range of this species occurs between the 50-600 mm isohyet, but they may be present along canyons entering the Namib Desert, where average rainfall is below 35 mm (Coetzee 2002). This species nests in rock crevices, while piled-up boulders provide nesting sites, which can be identified by the presence of accumulations of sticks and other vegetable matter. In Augrabies Falls National Park, in South Africa, the species inhabits rock shelters that hyraxes cannot enter (George and Crowther 1981), thanks to its broad and flattened skull. Diurnal, they live in colonies usually only of a few animals, though as many as 22 in an area of 170 m x 70 m have been recorded (Coetzee 2002). Breeding season varies, but is mainly in late spring and autumn. Litter size is a maximum of three, with two the norm. Gestation period is around three months (Coetzee 2002).
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

The species is largely confined to the western escarpment and adjoining mountainous areas, as well as inselbergs on the pro-Namib plains of Angola and Namibia. The Namib dunes and the very arid unvegetated mountains and plains west of the 50-mm isohyet restrict their spread westwards, while the Kalahari sands limit their spread east. The largest part of the distribution range of this species occurs between the 50-600 mm isohyet, but they may be present along canyons entering the Namib Desert, where average rainfall is below 35 mm (Coetzee 2002). This species nests in rock crevices, while piled-up boulders provide nesting sites, which can be identified by the presence of accumulations of sticks and other vegetable matter. In Augrabies Falls National Park, in South Africa, the species inhabits rock shelters that hyraxes cannot enter (George and Crowther 1981), thanks to its broad and flattened skull. Diurnal, they live in colonies usually only of a few animals, though as many as 22 in an area of 170 m x 70 m have been recorded (Coetzee 2002). Breeding season varies, but is mainly in late spring and autumn. Litter size is a maximum of three, with two the norm. Gestation period is around three months (Coetzee 2002).

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	There are no major threats to the species, although in urban areas they are preyed upon by domestic cats.

Major Threat(s):

There are no major threats to the species, although in urban areas they are preyed upon by domestic cats.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	This species occurs in a number of protected areas, including Etosha National Park, Skeleton Coast national Park, Ai-Ais, Namib-Naukluft National Park, Iona National Park and Augrabies National Park. Research is currently being done on the species in the Irongo Mtns, Omaruru. Taxonomic research to elucidate the status of the species complex is necessary.

Conservation Actions:

This species occurs in a number of protected areas, including Etosha National Park, Skeleton Coast national Park, Ai-Ais, Namib-Naukluft National Park, Iona National Park and Augrabies National Park. Research is currently being done on the species in the Irongo Mtns, Omaruru. Taxonomic research to elucidate the status of the species complex is necessary.

Citation:	Griffin, M. & Coetzee, N. 2008. Petromus typicus. In: IUCN 2008. 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 07 January 2009.
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