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Heller's vlei rat

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Heller's vlei rat
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Muridae
Genus: Otomys
Species:
O. helleri
Binomial name
Otomys helleri
Frick, 1914[2]
Synonyms
  • Otomys jacksoni ssp. helleri Frick, 1914
  • Otomys typus ssp. helleri Frick, 1914
  • Otomys jacksoni ssp. malkensis
  • Otomys typus ssp. malkensis

Heller's vlei rat (Otomys helleri) is a species of rodent in the family of Muridae. It is endemic to Ethiopia and is found on the Arussi Plateau and the Bale Mountains.[1][3]

Taxonomy

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Childs Frick (1914) initially described this species under the name Otomys jacksoni helleri. It was then included under O. typus (Ethiopian vlei rat) as a subspecies, and later as a synonym until Taylor et al. (2011) would elevated the taxa to species status.[4][1]

Conservation

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It is listed as "Least Concern" by the IUCN, due to a vast area of occurrence.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Taylor, P.; Relton, C. (2021). "Otomys helleri". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T48011421A78324723. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T48011421A78324723.en.
  2. ^ Frick, C. 1914. A new genus and some new species of Abyssinian rodents. Annals of the Varnegie Museum 9: 7-28
  3. ^ "Otomys helleri (id=1003401)". ASM Mammal Diversity Database. American Society of Mammalogists. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  4. ^ 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 20 February 2023.