622.

Brockman’s Meadow Mouse

Myomyscus brockmani

French: Myomyscus de Brockman / German: Brockman-Wiesenratte / Spanish: Ratén de campina de Brockman

Other common names: Brockman’'s Myomyscus, Smoky Meadow Mouse

Taxonomy. Mus brockmani Thomas, 1906,

“Upper Sheikh, British Somaliland [= So-malia]. Alt. 4500’ [= 1372 m].”

Myomyscus brockmani was previously grouped in the genus Myomys, but that genus was later shown to be a synonym of Mastomys . Monotypic.

Distribution. Ethiopia, NW Somalia, S South Sudan, N Uganda, Kenya, and N Tanzania, with isolated records from SW Sudan and NC Central African Republic.

Descriptive notes. Head—body 93-125 mm, tail 115-175 mm, ear 14-20 mm, hindfoot 18-22 mm; weight 22-39 g. Fur of Brockman’s Meadow Mouse is soft, medium brown above becoming smoky on flanks, and pure white below on belly, chin and throat. Tail is very long (c.140% of head-body length), medium brown above, paler below. Limbs short and smoky and white underneath. Forefeet have four digits (first digit missing), and hindfeet have five digits, with first digit reduced ending level with base of fifth digit. Females have five pairs of nipples.

Habitat. Rocky outcrops with sparse vegetation in dry locations at elevations of 1000 3000 m. Brockman’sMeadow Mice can also be found in grassy areas near rivers (Sudan) and buildings (Somalia).

Food and Feeding. In Kenya, stomachs of Brockman’s Meadow Mouse contained starchy substances.

Breeding. Reproduction is probably seasonal, with births occurring during late wet season (July-September). Based on a sample of two females,litters have 6-7 young.

Activity patterns. Brockman’s Meadow Mouse is nocturnal and terrestrial.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

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

Bibliography. Happold (1966b, 2013a), Misonne & Verschuren (1966), Monadjem et al. (2015), Musser & Car leton (2005).