African vlei rats (''Otomys''), also known as groove-toothed rats, live in many areas of
sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa is, geographically, the area and regions of the continent of Africa that lies south of the Sahara. These include West Africa, East Africa, Central Africa, and Southern Africa. Geopolitically, in addition to the African c ...
. Most species live in
marshland
A marsh is a wetland that is dominated by herbaceous rather than woody plant species.Keddy, P.A. 2010. Wetland Ecology: Principles and Conservation (2nd edition). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK. 497 p Marshes can often be found at ...
s,
grassland
A grassland is an area where the vegetation is dominated by grasses (Poaceae). However, sedge ( Cyperaceae) and rush (Juncaceae) can also be found along with variable proportions of legumes, like clover, and other herbs. Grasslands occur natu ...
s, and similar habitats
[ and feed on the vegetation of such areas, occasionally supplementing it with roots and seeds. The name "]vlei
A vlei () is a shallow minor lake, mostly of a seasonal or intermittent nature. It even might refer to seasonal ponds or marshy patches where frogs and similar marsh dwellers breed. Commonly, vleis vary in their extent, or even in the presence ...
" 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 rat
Rats are various medium-sized, long-tailed rodents. Species of rats are found throughout the order Rodentia, but stereotypical rats are found in the genus ''Rattus''. Other rat genera include ''Neotoma'' (pack rats), ''Bandicota'' ( bandicoot ...
s. The tails also are shorter than most Muridae, typically between one third and two thirds of the body length.[The Kingdon Pocket Guide to African Mammals, Jonathan Kingdon (2004) Russel Friedman Books ] but generally they have the brown-to-grey agouti 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
Genus ''Otomys''Angoni vlei rat
The Angoni vlei rat (''Otomys angoniensis'') is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.
It is found in Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Eswatini, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Its natural habitats are moist savanna, temper ...
, ''Otomys angoniensis''
* Barbour's vlei rat, ''Otomys barbouri''
* Burton's vlei rat, ''Otomys burtoni''
*''Otomys cheesmani
The Cheesman's vlei rat (''Otomys cheesmani'') is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is considered endemic to northwestern Ethiopia.
Conservation
It is possibly extinct and only known from two localities in Ethiopia, hence the asse ...
''Cuanza vlei rat
The Cuanza vlei rat (''Otomys cuanzensis'') is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.
It is found only in Angola.
Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland
A grassland is an area where the vegetation is do ...
, ''Otomys cuanzensis''
* Ruwenzori vlei rat, ''Otomys dartmouthi''
*Dent's vlei rat
Dent's vlei rat (''Otomys denti'') is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.
It is found in Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.
Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forests ...
, ''Otomys denti''
*Dollman's vlei rat
Dollman's vlei rat (''Otomys dollmani'') is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.
It is found only in Kenya. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland and swamps. It is threatened by habitat loss
Habitat ...
, ''Otomys dollmani''
*''Otomys fortior
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 and feed on the vegetation of such areas, occasionally supplementing ...
''Otomys helleri
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 and feed on the vegetation of such areas, occasionally supplementing ...
''Ethiopian vlei rat
The Ethiopian vlei rat (''Otomys typus'') is a species of vlei rat in the rodent family Muridae.
It is found only in Ethiopia and is considered endemic.
Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, subtropical or tropi ...
, ''Otomys typus''
*Southern African vlei rat
The Southern African vlei rat (''Otomys irroratus'') is a species of rodent in the vlei rat genus, ''Otomys'', of the family Muridae in the order Rodentia. This is the type species of the genus.Mount Elgon vlei rat
The Mount Elgon vlei rat (''Otomys jacksoni'') is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found in Kenya and Uganda. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland. It is threatened by habitat loss
Habitat d ...
, ''Otomys jacksoni''
*Tanzanian vlei rat
The Tanzanian vlei rat (''Otomys lacustris'') is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.
It is found in Kenya, Malawi, and Tanzania.
Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland and swamps.
It is threatened by habit ...
, ''Otomys lacustris''
*Laminate vlei rat
The laminate vlei rat (''Otomys laminatus'') is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.
It is found only in South Africa.
Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland and swamp
A swamp is a forested wetland.Keddy ...
, ''Otomys laminatus''
*Large vlei rat
The large vlei rat (''Otomys maximus'') is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.
It is found in Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Namibia, and Zambia.
Its natural habitats are moist savanna, subtropical or tropical seasonal ...
, ''Otomys maximus''
*Western vlei rat
The western vlei rat (''Otomys occidentalis'') is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.
It is found in Cameroon and Nigeria.
Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland and swamps.
It is threatened by habitat los ...
, ''Otomys occidentalis''
*Afroalpine vlei rat
The afroalpine vlei rat (''Otomys orestes'') is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.
It is found in the high moorlands of Kenya
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, ''Otomys orestes''
*Saunder's vlei rat
Saunder's vlei rat (''Otomys saundersiae'') is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.
It is found only in South Africa.
Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation, and subtropical or t ...
, ''Otomys saundersiae''
*''Otomys simiensis
The Simien vlei rat (''Otomys simiensis'') is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found in northern Ethiopia.
Conservation
The species is known from less than 10 locations in Ethiopia. However, it is thought to occur in a protect ...
''Otomys thomasi
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 and feed on the vegetation of such areas, occasionally supplementing ...
''Tropical vlei rat
The tropical vlei rat (''Otomys tropicalis'') is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.
It is found in Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, and Uganda.
Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical seasona ...
, ''Otomys tropicalis''
*Uzungwe vlei rat
The Uzungwe vlei rat (''Otomys uzungwensis'') is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.
It is found in Malawi, Tanzania, and Zambia.
Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland and swamps.
It is threatened by habi ...
, ''Otomys uzungwensis''
*'' Otomys yaldeni''
References
Rodent genera
Taxa named by Frédéric Cuvier
{{Otomys-stub