Thomas's vlei rat

Thomas's vlei rat
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Muridae
Genus: Otomys
Species:
O. thomasi
Binomial name
Otomys thomasi
Osgood, 1910[2]
Synonyms

Otomys typus ssp. thomasi Bohmann 1952

Thomas's vlei rat (Otomys thomasi) is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is endemic to Kenya's high plateau mountains of the Rift Valley.[1][3]

Taxonomy

Osgood (1910) initially described this species as Otomys thomasi.[2] In 2006, it would be included under Otomys orestes (afroalpine vlei rat) by Carleton & Byrne.[1] Taylor et al. (2011) reviewed the genus Otomys and moved Otomys thomasi back to species status.[4][1]

Conservation

It is known from less than 10 locations in Kenya and isn't recorded in protected areas, hence the assessment of the species as "Vulnerable" by the IUCN.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Taylor, P.J.; Relton, C. (2021). "Otomys thomasi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T48016232A78324728. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T48016232A78324728.en.
  2. ^ a b Osgood, W. H. (1910). "Diagnoses of new East African mammals, including a new genus of Muridae". Field Museum of Natural History. 10 (2). Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  3. ^ "Otomys thomasi (id=1003412)". ASM Mammal Diversity Database. American Society of Mammalogists. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  4. ^ Taylor, Peter J.; Lavrenchenko, Leonid A.; Carleton, Michael D.; Verheyen, Erik; Bennett, Nigel C.; Oosthuizen, Carel J.; Maree, Sarita (13 September 2011). "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" (PDF). Zootaxa. 3024 (1): 1–66. doi:10.11646/ZOOTAXA.3024.1.1. S2CID 59381852. Retrieved 17 February 2023.


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