Mount Kilimanjaro vlei rat (Otomys zinki) is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found in north-eastern Tanzania, on Mount Kilimanjaro.[1][3]
| Mount Kilimanjaro vlei rat | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Muridae |
| Genus: | Otomys |
| Species: | O. zinki
|
| Binomial name | |
| Otomys zinki Bohmann, 1943[2]
| |
Taxonomy
editBohmann (1943) initially described this species as Otomys typus zinki. It was kept under Otomys typus (Ethiopian vlei rat) by Bohmann in 1952 and moved under Otomys orestes (Afroalpine vlei rat) in the classification of Musser and Carleton (2005). However, this species was considered to be distinct by Taylor et al. (2011).[4]
Threats
editIt is known from only 1 location in Tanzania (Mt. Kilimanjaro). Although it occurs in a protected area, threats such as fires, climate change and habitat loss could lead the species to extinction in a short timespan.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c Relton, C. (2021). "Otomys zinki". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T48018185A48018206. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T48018185A48018206.en.
- ^ Bohmann, L. V. (1943). Zwei neue Otomys-Rassen aus Ostafrika. Zoologischer Anzeiger, 143, 153-155.
- ^ "Otomys zinki (id=1003419)". ASM Mammal Diversity Database. American Society of Mammalogists. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
- ^ Taylor, Peter J.; Lavrenchenko, Leonid A.; Carleton, Michael D.; Verheyen, Erik; Bennett, Nigel C.; Oosthuizen, Carel J.; Maree, Sarita (13 September 2011). "Specific limits and emerging diversity patterns in East African populations of laminate-toothed rats, genus Otomys (Muridae: Murinae: Otomyini): Revision of the Otomys typus complex" (PDF). Zootaxa. 3024 (1): 1–66. doi:10.11646/ZOOTAXA.3024.1.1. S2CID 59381852. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
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