41.

Gray-bellied Pouched Mouse

Saccostomus umbriventer

French: Saccostome a ventre gris / German: Graubauch-Kurzschwanzhamsterratte / Spanish: Raton de abazones de vientre gris

Taxonomy. Saccostomus umbriventer G.S. Miller, 1910,

“ Njori Osolali (Sotik), British East Africa [= Kenya].”

Molecular and morphological variation in S. mearnsi recently demonstrated two different species, referable here as S. mearnsi and S. umbriventer . Monotypic.

Distribution. N Tanzania and SW Kenya.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 133-136 mm, tail 556-60 mm, hindfoot ¢.20 mm. No specific data are available for ear length or body weight. The Gray-bellied Pouched Mouse is mediums=sized, with well-developed cheek pouches. Fur is soft and gray dorsally, clearly demarcated from white belly. Chin, throat, and upper chest are white. Ears are rounded. Tail is noticeably short and sparsely covered in bristles. Limbs are white, with four digits on forefeet and five digits on hindfeet.

Habitat. Masai Steppe savanna.

Food and Feeding. The Gray-bellied Pouched Mouse is presumed to be granivorous.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. The Gray-bellied Pouched Mouse is presumed to be nocturnal and terrestrial.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. The Gray-bellied Pouched Mouse is presumed to be solitary.

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

Bibliography. Corti et al. (2004), Denys (1988), Mikula et al. (2016).