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- Mastomys natalensis Smith, 1834
Mastomys natalensis Smith, 1834
Order: Rodentia > Family: Muridae > Genus: Mastomys > Species: Mastomys natalensis Smith, 1834
Common Name: Natal Mastomys [English]
Type Description
Smith, A. 1833-1834. An epitome of African Zoology; or, a concise description of the objects of the animal Kingdom inhabiting Africa, its islands and seas. South African Quarterly Journal, 2:16-32, 49-64, 81-96, 113-128, 145-160, 169-192, 209-224, 233-248.
Type Locality
South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal, Port Natal (= Durban).
Measurements
Total length: 81-253 mm
Head and body: 90-155 mm
Tail length: 88-150 mm
Hindfoot length: 18-30 mm
Ear length: 9-23 mm
Weight: 20-70 g
Head and body: 90-155 mm
Tail length: 88-150 mm
Hindfoot length: 18-30 mm
Ear length: 9-23 mm
Weight: 20-70 g
Description
Look for the incisive foramina ending in front of the first molars in the upper toothrows. The genus gets the English name from the large number of teats in females.
Distribution
Mastomys natalensis is found in savannas, woodlands, secondary growth, forest clearings, fields near villages and in houses. This species in distributed in all but the driest areas just northwest and south of the Sahara. (Kingdon, 1984, 1997)
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.
4. Swynnerton, G. H., and R. W. Hayman. 1951. A checklist of the land mammals of the Tanganyika Territory and the Zanzibar Protectorate. Journal of the East African Natural History Society, 20(6):274-392.
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.
4. Swynnerton, G. H., and R. W. Hayman. 1951. A checklist of the land mammals of the Tanganyika Territory and the Zanzibar Protectorate. Journal of the East African Natural History Society, 20(6):274-392.