83.

Lake Chad Tateril

Taterillus lacustris

French: Gerbille du Tchad / German: Tschadsee-Taterillus / Spanish: Gerbillo del Chad

Other common names: Lake Chad Gerbil

Taxonomy. Tatera lacustris Thomas & Wroughton, 1907,

“Lake Chad,” Nigeria .

Taterillus lacustris was placed in synonymy with 7. gracilis by D. R. Rosevear in 1969, while some others, including F. Petter in 1975 and C. B. Robbins in 1977, claimed its validity mainly on basis of its unique cytogenetic characters. Some new cytogenetic and morphometric analyses confirm the species as valid. Monotypic.

Distribution. NE Nigeria and N Cameroon, S ofLake Chad.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 105-137 mm,tail 134-162 mm, ear 18-22 mm, hindfoot 29-5-32 mm; weight 31-52 g. The Lake Chad Tateril is a medium-sized gerbil, brownish red dorsally and with pure white ventral pelage, with some white cheek, supraorbital and post-auricular spots. Dark hindfoot soles are bare. Long hairy tail (120-140% of head-body length) terminates in a long dark pencil. Females bear four pairs of mammae. Karyotype 2n = 28-30.

Habitat. Bush savannas, fallow lands, or cultivated areas.

Food and Feeding. The Lake Chad Tateril is probably omnivorous,like other members of genus.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. Lake Chad Taterils are probably nocturnal and terrestrial.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red Lust.

Bibliography. Granjon & Duplantier (2009), Happold (2013a), Petter (1975a), Robbins (1977), Rosevear (1969), Tranier et al. (1973).