Otomys

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For the indigenous ethnic group in Mexico, see Otomies.
African vlei rats
Temporal range: Late Pliocene - Recent
File:Otomys irroratus 8231s.jpg
Otomys irroratus, the Southern African vlei rat, a large specimen grazing on clover.
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Mammalia
Order:
Rodentia
Family:
Muridae
Subfamily:
Murinae
Tribe:
Otomyini
Genus:
Otomys

F. Cuvier, 1824
Species

26, see text
Synonyms
  • Anchotomys Thomas, 1918[1]
  • Euryotis Brants, 1827
  • Lamotomys Thomas, 1918
  • Oreinomys Trouessart, 1880
  • Oreomys Heuglin, 1877
  • Palaeotomys Broom, 1937
  • Prototomys Broom, 1948

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African vlei rats (Otomys), also known as groove-toothed rats, live in many areas of sub-Saharan Africa. Most species live in marshlands, grasslands, and similar habitats[2] and feed on the vegetation of such areas, occasionally supplementing it with roots and seeds. The name "vlei" refers to the South African term for intermittent, seasonal, or perennial bodies of standing water.

Otomys are compact rodents with a tendency to shorter faces and legs than other types of rats. The tails also are shorter than most Muridae, typically between one third and two thirds of the body length.[3] The coat colour varies according to species,[2] but generally they have the typical agouti brown-to-grey coats typical of mice and other small wild rodents. Species living in warm or temperate regions tend to have unusually large ears for murids (e.g. Otomys irroratus), whereas some of the alpine species, such as Otomys sloggetti have markedly smaller ears. (However, the latter species may no longer belong in the genus Otomys).

Depending on the species adult Otomys have a body length between 12 and 22 cm (5–9 inches) and weigh 90 to 260 grams (3–9 oz).

Species

[4] Genus Otomys - groove-toothed or vlei rats

References

  1. ↑ "Genus Otomys", Mammal Species of the World, 3rd ed.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 The Kingdon Pocket Guide to African Mammals, Jonathan Kingdon (2004) Russel Friedman Books ISBN 1-875091-14-9
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ "Otomys", Mammal Species of the World, 3rd ed.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 [1], Specific limits and emerging diversity patterns in East African populations of laminate-toothed rats, genus Otomys (Muridae: Murinae: Otomyini): Revision of the Otomys typus complex.


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