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- Lemniscomys striatus Linnaeus, 1758
Lemniscomys striatus Linnaeus, 1758
Order: Rodentia > Family: Muridae > Genus: Lemniscomys > Species: Lemniscomys striatus Linnaeus, 1758
Common Name: Typical Lemniscomys [English]
Type Description
Syst. Nat., 10th ed., 1:62.
Type Locality
'India' (= Sierra Leone; G. M. Allen, 1939:394).
Measurements
Head and body: 98-140 mm
Tail length: 102-155 mm
Hindfoot length: 23-32 mm
Weight: 20-68 g
Tail length: 102-155 mm
Hindfoot length: 23-32 mm
Weight: 20-68 g
Description
This rodent has several prominent black stripes down the midline of the back, that are interrupted with spots, a bicoloured tail and a white belly.
Comparisons
The only other rodents with several black stripes down the back are Lemniscomys zebra (where the stripes are not interrupted with spots) or Rhabdomys (where there are only four stripes; L. striatus has more than four stripes).
Distribution
Lemniscomys striatus has been recorded in variety of grassland and savanna habitats.
Key References
1. Kingdon, J. 1984. East African mammals: An atlas of evolution in Africa. (Hares and Rodents). University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 2B:617-622.
2. Kingdon, J. 1997. The Kingdon field guide to African mammals, AP Natural World Academic Press, Harcourt Brace & Company, San Diego, p. 212-213.
3. Nowak, R. M. 1999. Walker's Mammals of the World. Sixth ed. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, 2:1344-1346, 1596-1597.
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. 212-213.
3. Nowak, R. M. 1999. Walker's Mammals of the World. Sixth ed. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, 2:1344-1346, 1596-1597.
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.