The Southern African vlei rat (Otomys irroratus) is a large, shaggy-furred rodent of the family Muridae and the type species of the vlei rat genus Otomys. It is common in the grasslands and swamps of southern Africa, from the far south-western Cape of South Africa around the southern and eastern coast and inland, through Lesotho and parts of Eswatini, with an apparently isolated population in tropical eastern Zimbabwe and adjacent Mozambique. The head and body measure about 160 mm with a short tail of about 100 mm, and the mean mass is about 144 g. It builds an open, bowl-shaped nest of shredded grass above ground near marshy vegetation and is mainly active at dusk and dawn. A cecal digester and strict herbivore, it eats stems, leaves and seeds of grasses and herbs and gnaws the bark of pines in plantations, damaging the trees. Solitary and aggressive toward its own kind, it breeds up to four times a year, and its young are born furred with erupted incisors. Owls, snakes, mongooses and many other predators prey on it.
Facts
Classification
System (Realm) Relationship to PeopleAgricultural or Structural Pest 1 Living or Extinct Body Size Band Activity Pattern Activity Pattern Connections
Child Taxon Of
Muridae, Taxa Source Southern African vlei rat (Wikipedia)
In Biome
Source Southern African vlei rat (Wikipedia)
Source Southern African vlei rat (Wikipedia)
In the Other Atlases
Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Source Southern African vlei rat (Wikipedia)Distribution and habitat, EswatiniQuote, Distribution and habitat, Eswatini
including parts of Eswatini
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Source Southern African vlei rat (Wikipedia)Distribution and habitat, LesothoQuote, Distribution and habitat, Lesotho
This part of its range includes Lesotho.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Source Southern African vlei rat (Wikipedia)Distribution and habitat, MozambiqueQuote, Distribution and habitat, Mozambique
An apparently isolated population occurs still further north in tropical eastern Zimbabwe and adjacent Mozambique.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Source Southern African vlei rat (Wikipedia)Distribution and habitatQuote, Distribution and habitat
The range extends from the far South Western Cape of South Africa
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Source Southern African vlei rat (Wikipedia)Distribution and habitat, ZimbabweQuote, Distribution and habitat, Zimbabwe
An apparently isolated population occurs still further north in tropical eastern Zimbabwe and adjacent Mozambique.
Sources
1. Southern African vlei rat (Wikipedia)
Diet and Feeding strategies
is a cecal digester and strict herbivore
Distribution and habitat, realm
It is a terrestrial species that lives above ground
Lead, living
It is native to the grasslands and swamps of southern Africa where it is a common species.
Diet and Feeding strategies, plantations
They also gnaw on the bark of pine trees in plantations, damaging the trees.
Description
is a large-sized rat
Ecology, activity
is mainly active at dusk and dawn
Ecology, diurnal
Most are diurnal, although some vlei rats show nocturnal activity.
Distribution and habitat
The range extends from the far South Western Cape of South Africa
Distribution and habitat, Lesotho
This part of its range includes Lesotho.
Distribution and habitat, Eswatini
including parts of Eswatini
Distribution and habitat, Zimbabwe
An apparently isolated population occurs still further north in tropical eastern Zimbabwe and adjacent Mozambique.
Distribution and habitat, Mozambique
An apparently isolated population occurs still further north in tropical eastern Zimbabwe and adjacent Mozambique.
In Group: Rodents And Lagomorphs, Lead
is a species of rodent in the vlei rat genus, Otomys, of the family Muridae in the order Rodentia
Child Taxon Of: Muridae, Lead
is a species of rodent in the vlei rat genus, Otomys, of the family Muridae in the order Rodentia
In Biome: Grassland, Lead, habitat
It is native to the grasslands and swamps of southern Africa where it is a common species.
In Biome: Wetlands, Lead, swamps
It is native to the grasslands and swamps of southern Africa where it is a common species.
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