461.

Short-snouted Thicket Rat

Grammomys brevirostris

French: Grammomys a museau court / German: Kurzschnauzen-Akazienmaus / Spanish: Rata de matorral de hocico corto

Other common names: Loita Plain Grammomys, Loita Plain Thicket Rat, Short-snouted Grammomys

Taxonomy. Grammomys brevirostris Krystufek, 2008,

Kenya, Lemesikio, Lo-liondo, Loita Plains (S 01°30’, E 35°09’).” Modified here to Loita Plains, Kenya (S 01°30’, E 35°09’) because Lemesikio and LLoliondo are across the border in Tanzania.

Grammomys brevirostris was described on basis of cranial and dental characteristics of type specimen. Monotypic.

Distribution. Known only from type locality in SW Kenya.

Descriptive notes. No external measurements available. This species’ fur is reddish brown to rusty above, with grayflanks and sharply demarcated white belly. Lips and cheeks are white; there is no subauricular tuft. Tail is dark, nearly blackish throughout, with no terminal tuft, and presumably is very long and semi-prehensile. Feet are whitish dorsally.

Habitat. No information.

Food and Feeding. Short-snouted Thicket Rats are presumably herbivorous.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. Short-snouted Thicket Rats are presumably nocturnal and arboreal, as other members of genus.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Not assessed on The IUCN Red Lust.

Bibliography. Krystufek (2008).