30.

Shortridge’s Pygmy Rock Mouse

Petromyscus shortridger

French: Petromysque de Shortridge / German: Shortridge-Zwergfelsenmaus / Spanish: Ratén de roca enano de Shortridge

Other common names: Kaokoveld Pygmy Rock Mouse, Shortridge’'s Rock Mouse

Taxonomy. Petromyscus shortridge: Thomas, 1926,

“ Cunene Falls, N.W. Ovamboland, [southern Angola]. 3350’ [= 1022 m].”

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. Narrow distribution restricted to extreme SW Angola and N Namibia.

Descriptive notes. Head—body 65-98 mm, tail 74-104 mm, ear 13-18 mm, hindfoot 15-20 mm; weight 12-31 g. Shortridge’s Pygmy Rock Mouseis small, with long tail. Fur is soft andsilky, dark brown speckled black dorsally and grayish ventrally. Hairs have dark gray bases. Ears are large and rounded. Tail is moderately long but relatively short for a species of Petromyscus and darker above than below. Limbs are off-white, with four digits on forefeet and five digits on hindfeet. It has four nipples.

Habitat. Rocky substrates in hilly, mountainous, and arid terrain.

Food and Feeding. Shortridge’s Pygmy Rock Mouseis primarily granivorous but also eats insects and green plant material.

Breeding. Pregnant Shortridge’s Pygmy Rock Mice have been collected in August— May, with 2—4 embryos.

Activity patterns. No information.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN RedList. Shortridge’s Pygmy Rock Mouse occupies rocky habitat unlikely to becomethreatened in the near future.

Bibliography. Coetzee (2013d), Denys et al. (1995), Jansa et al. (1999), Monadjem et al. (2015), Petter (1967), Shortridge (1934a, 1934b), Skinner & Chimimba (2005).