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Mastomys pernanus Kershaw, 1921

Order: Rodentia > Family: Muridae > Genus: Mastomys > Species: Mastomys pernanus Kershaw, 1921

Common Name: Dwarf Mastomys [English]

Type Description

Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., ser. 9, 8:568.

Type Locality

SW Kenya, Amala (Mara) River; see G. M. Allen (1939:406) and Misonne and Verschuren (1964:655) for details.

Measurements

Total length: 105-176 mm
Head and body: 62-77 mm
Tail length: 52-66 mm
Hindfoot length: 14-17 mm
Ear length: 8-16 mm
Weight: 7-18 g

Description

Mastomys pernanus is the smallest of the three species and is not commonly seen and poorly known. Recent specimens have been documented in Tarangire National Park. The genus gets the English name from the large number of teats in females.

Key References

1. Kingdon, J. 1984. East African mammals: An atlas of evolution in Africa. (Hares and Rodents). University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 2B:584, 587-589.
2. Kingdon, J. 1997. The Kingdon field guide to African mammals, AP Natural World Academic Press, Harcourt Brace & Company, San Diego, p. 207.
3. Nowak, R. M. 1999. Walker's Mammals of the World. Sixth ed. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, 2:1344-1346, 1576-1577.