449.

Tanzanian Shaggy Rat

Dasymys sua

French: Dasymys de Tanzanie / German: Tansania-\ WWollhaarratte / Spanish: Rata peluda de Tanzania

Other common names: Sua Dasymys, Sua Shaggy Rat, Tanzanian Dasymys

Taxonomy. Dasymys sua W. N. Verheyen et al., 2003,

on the flanks of the Uluguru Range (Kitunda Forest), near Morogoro, Mbete, E Tanzania.

W. N. Verheyen and colleagues described D. sua in 2003 as a new species, distinguished from other members of genus by craniometric details. Genetic distances between this species and D. rwandae, D. medius, and D. allen: are, however, low (less than 2:5%) for species differentiation.

Monotypic.

Distribution. Known only from a few localitites in Uluguru Mts, NE Tanzania.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 141 mm, tail 128 mm, ear 18 mm, hindfoot 27 mm; weight 78 g. As with all Dasymys, fur of the Tanzanian Shaggy Rat is soft, shaggy, longhaired, and reddish brown in color dorsally and dull gray ventrally. Head is broad, with short muzzle, vibrissae long, and ears rounded and well furred on inside. Tail is shorter (91%) than head-body length, heavily scaled, sparsely haired, and darker above than below.

Habitat. Swampy areas in wetlands.

Food and Feeding. The Tanzanian Shaggy Rat is presumably herbivorous, like other members of genus.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. Tanzanian Shaggy Rats are mostly nocturnal, like other members of genus.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Not assessed on The [UCN Red List.

Bibliography. Monadjem et al. (2015), Verheyen et al. (2003).