Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Cladus: Craniata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Cladus: Reptiliomorpha
Cladus: Amniota
Cladus: Synapsida
Cladus: Eupelycosauria
Cladus: Sphenacodontia
Cladus: Sphenacodontoidea
Ordo: Therapsida
Cladus: Theriodontia
Subordo: Cynodontia
Cladus: Mammaliaformes
Classis: Mammalia
Subclassis: Trechnotheria
Infraclassis: Zatheria
Supercohort: Theria
Cohort: Eutheria
Cohort: Placentalia
Cladus: Boreoeutheria
Superordo: Euarchontoglires
Ordo: Rodentia
Subordo: Sciurognathi
Infraordo: Ctenodactylomorpha
Familia: Ctenodactylidae
Genus: Ctenodactylus
Species: Ctenodactylus vali
Name
Ctenodactylus vali Thomas, 1902
References
Ctenodactylus vali in Mammal Species of the World.
Wilson, Don E. & Reeder, DeeAnn M. (Editors) 2005. Mammal Species of the World – A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. Third edition. ISBN 0-8018-8221-4.
Vernacular names
English: Val's gundi
polski: gundia berberyjska
Val's gundi (Ctenodactylus vali) is a species of rodent in the family Ctenodactylidae. It is known from two widely separated areas of North Africa.
Description
Val's gundi is very similar to the other species of gundi, especially the common gundi, with grey, soft, silky fur and a resemblance to guinea pigs. They have rounded ears; round eyes; stocky, blunt nosed bodies; short legs; short necks; and short, furry tails.[2]
Distribution
Val's gundi is found in two isolated populations. The western population occurs in northeastern Morocco but with the main part of the population in adjacent parts of northwestern Algeria, in the Oued Guir, Oued Zouzfana and Oued Saoura, with the most southernly record from Kerzaz in Algeria. The eastern population is in northwestern Libya, some 1,000 km (620 mi) from the other population and is found on high plateaus at about 1,000 m (3,300 ft) in altitude.[1]
Biology
Val's gundi is found in rocky habitats, using fissures and rocky crevices as shelters. Compared to the common gundi it inhabits drier desert regions and is less sociable and much more solitary. The males and females only come together in the breeding season which lasts from November to January. It is generally diurnal, but it is occasionally active for short periods after sunset. The gestation period of 56 days after which a litter of one to three young are born, the female gives birth to two or three litters per year.[1] The previous litters are independent prior to the birth of the next litter.[3]
Val's gundi is thought to be limited to rockier and drier habitat as a result of competition with the common gundi.[3]
Taxonomy and name
Val's gundi was considered to be a subspecies of common gundi, but studies have shown that it is morphologically and behaviourally distinctive.[1] The derivation of the name is from a local word for the rodent rather than after a person, "vali" may be a local word for this rodent, as is "gundi" elsewhere.[4]
Conservation status
Val's gundi is currently listed as Data Deficient since there is no substantial information on the species range or population numbers or abundance, making it difficult to ascertain what the true status of the species is. It is thought that as there are no likely threats to the species its true status may be Least Concern.[1]
References
"Ctenodactylus vali (Val's Gundi)". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
"Ctenodactylidae - gundis". nhptv. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
"Ctenodactylus vali". LEEC. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
Watkins, Michael; Boelens, Bo (2009). The Eponym Dictionary of Mammals. Johns Hopkins University. p. 424. ISBN 978-0-8018-9304-9.
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