Otomys
Encyclopedia
African vlei rats also known as groove-toothed rats, live in many areas of sub-Saharan Africa
. They live in marshlands and grassland
s, and eat the green grass and herbs that grow there, occasionally supplementing this with roots and seeds. They are named after "vlei
", the local term for intermittent lakes.
They have shorter legs and tails than other types of rat
s, and can be various colours.
African vlei rats are compact rats with short faces, short legs and a short tail. They eat grass
es, seed
s, root
s, leaves
and other similar food. Adults are between 12 and 22 cm (5–9 inches) long between head and tail, and the young are between 8 and 12 cm (3–5 inches). They weigh 90 to 260 grams (3–9 oz). Most species live in grassland
s, savanna
s, swamp
s, and similar habitats.
Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa as a geographical term refers to the area of the African continent which lies south of the Sahara. A political definition of Sub-Saharan Africa, instead, covers all African countries which are fully or partially located south of the Sahara...
. They live in marshlands and grassland
Grassland
Grasslands are areas where the vegetation is dominated by grasses and other herbaceous plants . However, sedge and rush families can also be found. Grasslands occur naturally on all continents except Antarctica...
s, and eat the green grass and herbs that grow there, occasionally supplementing this with roots and seeds. They are named after "vlei
Vlei
The word vlei is used predominantly in South Africa. In most instances a vlei is a shallow minor lake of a seasonal or intermittent nature. It even might refer to seasonal ponds or marshy patches where frogs and similar marsh dwellers breed, but too minor to be granted recognition in the form of a...
", the local term for intermittent lakes.
They have shorter legs and tails than other types of rat
Rat
Rats are various medium-sized, long-tailed rodents of the superfamily Muroidea. "True rats" are members of the genus Rattus, the most important of which to humans are the black rat, Rattus rattus, and the brown rat, Rattus norvegicus...
s, and can be various colours.
African vlei rats are compact rats with short faces, short legs and a short tail. They eat grass
Grass
Grasses, or more technically graminoids, are monocotyledonous, usually herbaceous plants with narrow leaves growing from the base. They include the "true grasses", of the Poaceae family, as well as the sedges and the rushes . The true grasses include cereals, bamboo and the grasses of lawns ...
es, seed
Seed
A seed is a small embryonic plant enclosed in a covering called the seed coat, usually with some stored food. It is the product of the ripened ovule of gymnosperm and angiosperm plants which occurs after fertilization and some growth within the mother plant...
s, root
Root
In vascular plants, the root is the organ of a plant that typically lies below the surface of the soil. This is not always the case, however, since a root can also be aerial or aerating . Furthermore, a stem normally occurring below ground is not exceptional either...
s, leaves
Leaves
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and other similar food. Adults are between 12 and 22 cm (5–9 inches) long between head and tail, and the young are between 8 and 12 cm (3–5 inches). They weigh 90 to 260 grams (3–9 oz). Most species live in grassland
Grassland
Grasslands are areas where the vegetation is dominated by grasses and other herbaceous plants . However, sedge and rush families can also be found. Grasslands occur naturally on all continents except Antarctica...
s, savanna
Savanna
A savanna, or savannah, is a grassland ecosystem characterized by the trees being sufficiently small or widely spaced so that the canopy does not close. The open canopy allows sufficient light to reach the ground to support an unbroken herbaceous layer consisting primarily of C4 grasses.Some...
s, swamp
Swamp
A swamp is a wetland with some flooding of large areas of land by shallow bodies of water. A swamp generally has a large number of hammocks, or dry-land protrusions, covered by aquatic vegetation, or vegetation that tolerates periodical inundation. The two main types of swamp are "true" or swamp...
s, and similar habitats.
Species
Genus Otomys - groove-toothed or vlei rats- Angolan Vlei RatAngolan Vlei RatThe Angolan Vlei Rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.It is found only in Angola.Its natural habitats are dry savanna, moist savanna, and subtropical or tropical seasonally wet or flooded lowland grassland....
, Otomys anchietae - Angoni Vlei RatAngoni Vlei RatThe Angoni Vlei Rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.It is found in Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe....
, Otomys angoniensis - Barbour's Vlei RatBarbour's Vlei RatBarbour's Vlei Rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.It is found in Kenya and Uganda.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical high-altitude shrubland.It is threatened by habitat loss.-References:...
, Otomys barbouri - Burton's Vlei RatBurton's Vlei RatBurton's Vlei Rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.It is found only in Cameroon.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical high-altitude shrubland, subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland, and swamps....
, Otomys burtoni - Otomys cheesmani
- Cuanza Vlei RatCuanza Vlei RatThe Cuanza Vlei Rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.It is found only in Angola.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland and swamps.-References:...
, Otomys cuanzensis - Ruwenzori Vlei RatRuwenzori Vlei RatThe Ruwenzori Vlei Rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.It is found only in Uganda.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland.-References:...
, Otomys dartmouthi - Dent's Vlei RatDent's Vlei RatThe Dent's Vlei Rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.It is found in Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia....
, Otomys denti - Dollman's Vlei RatDollman's Vlei RatDollman's Vlei Rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.It is found only in Kenya. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland and swamps. It is threatened by habitat loss. Some authorities, including the IUCN, regard it as a synonym of Otomys tropicalis....
, Otomys dollmani - Otomys fortior
- Otomys helleri
- Southern African Vlei Rat, Otomys irroratus
- Mount Elgon Vlei RatMount Elgon Vlei RatThe Mount Elgon Vlei Rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.It is found in Kenya and Uganda.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland.It is threatened by habitat loss.-References:...
, Otomys jacksoni - Tanzanian Vlei RatTanzanian Vlei RatThe Tanzanian Vlei Rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.It is found in Kenya, Malawi, and Tanzania.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland and swamps.It is threatened by habitat loss....
, Otomys lacustris - Laminate Vlei RatLaminate Vlei RatThe Laminate Vlei Rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.It is found only in South Africa.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland and swamps.-References:...
, Otomys laminatus - Large Vlei RatLarge Vlei RatThe Large Vlei Rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Namibia, and Zambia....
, Otomys maximus - Western Vlei RatWestern Vlei RatThe Western Vlei Rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.It is found in Cameroon and Nigeria.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland and swamps.It is threatened by habitat loss....
, Otomys occidentalis - Afroalpine Vlei RatAfroalpine Vlei RatThe Afroalpine Vlei Rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.It is found in the high moorlands of Kenya.-Reference:*Taylor, P. & Maree, S. 2004. . Downloaded on 9 July 2007....
, Otomys orestes - Saunder's Vlei RatSaunder's Vlei RatSaunder's Vlei Rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.It is found only in South Africa.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation, and subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland.-References:* Taylor, P. & Maree, S. 2004. . ...
, Otomys saundersiae - Otomys simiensis
- Otomys thomasi
- Tropical Vlei RatTropical Vlei RatThe Tropical Vlei Rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.It is found in Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan, and Uganda....
, Otomys tropicalis - Typical Vlei RatTypical Vlei RatThe Typical Vlei Rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.It is found only in Ethiopia.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montanes, subtropical or tropical high-altitude shrubland, and subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland.It is threatened by habitat...
, Otomys typus - Uzungwe Vlei RatUzungwe Vlei RatThe Uzungwe Vlei Rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.It is found in Malawi, Tanzania, and Zambia.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland and swamps....
, Otomys uzungwensis - Otomys yaldeni
- Otomys zinki