Graphiurus platyops Thomas 1897
Creators: name: Don E. Wilson
name: Thomas E. Lacher, Jr
name: Russell A. Mittermeier
Publisher: name: Lynx Edicions
Year: 2016
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Chordata
Mammalia
Rodentia
Gliridae
Graphiurus
Graphiurus platyops

description: 13.
Flat-headed African Dormouse
Graphiurus platyops
French: Loir de Thomas / German: Siidafrikanischer Felsenbilch / Spanish: Liron de cabeza plana
Other common names: Rock Dormouse
Taxonomy. Graphiurus platyops Thomas, 1897,
Enkeldorn, Mashonaland, southern Zimbabwe.
Placed in the subgenus Graphiurus. Graphiurus platyops, as reflected by its scientific and common name, was initially distinguished from all other African dormice by its flattened cranium. Few researchers have disputed status ofthis taxon as a valid species, but confusion has arisen due to the generic names created by O. Thomas and M. A. C. Hinton in 1925 and due to the inclusion of what M. E. Holden in 2005 and 2013 stated were probably unrelated taxa within this species. Thomas and Hinton proposed that two species of rock-dwelling dormice, G. platyops and G. rupicola, should be placed in their own genus based on morphological and ecological differences; they named the new genus Gliriscus and chose G. platyops as the type species, an arrangement followed by G. M. Allen in 1939. Initially by 1940, J. R. Ellerman recognized Gliriscus as a subgenus, but later in 1953, Ellerman and colleagues stated that the subgenus was not separable from the more arboreal forest and savanna African dormice, so they did not recognize Gliriscus at the genus or subgeneric level. Ellerman and colleagues also grouped G. rupicola as a subspecies of G. platyops, an arrangement followed by X. Misonne in 1974 and H. Genest-Villard in 1978. In 1951, A. Roberts followed Thomas and Winton in recognizing the genus Gliriscus and listed G. rupicola as a separate species, pointing out substantial morphological differences between rupicola and platyops, a position endorsed by Holden in 2005 based on study of museum specimens and preliminary multivariate analyses. In 2013, Holden provided a more detailed description of G. rupicola and comparison with G. platyops. Several named forms of another unrelated species, G. angolensis, has also been included as subspecies of G. platyops by Ellerman and colleagues in 1953, W. F. H. Ansell in 1974 and 1978, and Holden in 1993. Subsequent study of type specimens, large series of specimens, and preliminary analyses by Holden led her to conclude in 2005 and 2013 that G. angolensis, G. rupicola, and G. platyops are consistently morphologically separable and should be recognized as valid species. Previously thought to occur in central Botswana; however, Holden reported in 2005 that the museum specimen on which the record was based represents G. microtis. Monotypic.
Distribution. SE Africa, in NE & S Zambia, S Malawi, Zimbabwe, WC Mozambique, E Botswana, NE South Africa, and Swaziland.
Descriptive notes. Head-body 95-122 mm, tail 66-98 mm, ear 13-18 mm, hindfoot 18-25 mm; weight 30-4-52-8 g. No sexual dimorphism reported. Dorsal pelage of the Flat-headed African Dormouseis gray, brownish gray, or grayish brown; texture is sleek; and fur is moderately long but with relatively short guard hairs (rump hairs 10 mm, guard hairs up to 13 mm). Ventral pelage is white or cream, with dark gray bases of ventral fur hairs moderately visible. Head color matches that of dorsal pelage, becoming paler toward muzzle. Cheeks are cream or white, forming part of pale lateral area that extends from cheeks to shoulders. Dorsal and ventral pelage colors are clearly delineated. Eyes are large, and eye mask is conspicuous; in most individuals, eyes are encircled by thick dark stripes that extend from eyes to muzzle. Ears are brown, moderately large, and rounded. Faint white postauricular patches are sometimes present. Hindfeet are usually white, or white with dark metatarsal streak, c.20% of head—body length. Tail is moderately short, c.73% of head-body length; tail hairs are shorter at tail base, 5—7 mm, and longer attail tip, up to 30 mm; tail color similar to that of dorsal pelage except many white hairs are mixed in throughoutits length;tail tip is white. Skull is gracile, broad, and flat; in lateral profile, dorsal outline of skull from rostrum to occiput is practically horizontal. Greatest length of skull is 28-6-32 mm, zygomatic breadth is 16:1-18:6 mm, and upper tooth row length is 2:8-3-5 mm. External and cranial measurements based on Zimbabwe and north-eastern South Africa specimens. Chromosome number not known. Females typically have four pairs of nipples (I pectoral + 1 abdominal + 2 inguinal = 8).
Habitat. Zambezian Woodland Biotic Zone and northern part of Highveld Biotic Zone. Flat-headed African Dormiceare most often trapped in crevices in “kopjes” (rocky hills), “krantzes” (rock overhangs), and under exfoliating granite. They are often found in association with the Bush Hyrax (Heterohyrax brucei) and the Rock Hyrax (Procavia capensis). In Mozambique, individuals were captured in dry Androstachys sp. (Picrodendraceae) scrub thickets in a dry riverbed. In north-eastern South Africa, one female with three young was caught in a hollow tree branch. Three individuals were trapped in caves in South Africa, according to notes on specimen labels.
Food and Feeding. The Flat-headed African Dormouse is omnivorous. Stomach contents of individuals from Zimbabwe and Botswana have been reported to contain remains of well-masticated small seeds, traces of green vegetable matter, moths, and chitinous remains of other insects. One animal was trapped using part of a rat carcass for bait.
Breeding. Little is known about the reproductive biology of, but in Zimbabwe, a pregnant Flat-headed African Dormouse carrying two full-term embryos was obtained in February.
Activity patterns. The Flat-headed African Dormouse is nocturnal and probably crepuscular. Five individuals captured in western Zimbabwe between 06:00 h and 09:00 h suggested that at least some individuals were crepuscular or can be active during the day.
Movements, Home range and Social organization. The Flat-headed African Dormouse is predominantly rupicolous. Markedly flattened cranium allows movement through narrow rock crevices, where they are most commonly found. They are apparently solitary. In 1997, A. Channing provided the following behavioral information: “unbaited tunnel traps that have been entered by one individual seem to attract others, suggesting that, like the Spectacled African Dormice (G. ocularis), these dormice use scent trails. They are aggressive, flourishing and whipping their tails as a visual signal. Vocalizations include a soft warning call, consisting of a number of short, low-pitched notes. An aggression call followsif the intruder does not leave. The aggression call consists of a series of briefspits, each consisting of a 0-1second burst of high amplitude white noise. The encounter escalates into a fight if the intruder remains.” Because Channing included the Rupicolous African Dormice (G. rupicola) within this species, the behavioral information listed by Channing cannot be ascribed to the Flat-headed African Dormice with certainty.
Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Flatheaded African Dormouse is widespread, and there are no identified potential threats; population trend is unknown but it is probably not uncommon. A more appropriate classification of the Flat-headed African Dormouse might be Data Deficient because so little is known about the precise distribution and abundance. There are only c.50 museum specimens, and only 1-2 individuals represent most localities; authors that cite large numbers of museum specimens may be including other species such as the Angolan African Dormouse (G. angolensis) and the Rupicolous African Dormouse within this species, which would artificially inflate the number of recorded specimens. Although the primary limiting factor for populations of Flat-headed African Dormice is thought to be suitable rocky habitat, other factors that influence density and sustainability have not been studied. There are a good number of regional and private conservation areas throughout much of its distribution, although years of civil conflict have negatively impacted ecosystems and wildlife in Mozambique and there are no effectively managed protected areas.
Bibliography. Allen, G.M. (1939), Ansell (1974, 1978), Channing (1997), De Graaff (1981), Ellerman (1940), Ellerman et al. (1953), Genest-Villard (1978), Grubb (2008a), Happold & Lock (2013), Holden (1993, 2005, 2013), Misonne (1974), Rautenbach (1982), Roberts (1951), Skinner & Smithers (1990), Smithers (1971, 1983), Smithers &Tello (1976), Smithers & Wilson (1979), Thomas & Hinton (1925), Wilson (1975), WWF (2015).
description: Published as part of Don E. Wilson, Thomas E. Lacher, Jr & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2016, Gliridae, pp. 838-889 in Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 6 Lagomorphs and Rodents I, Barcelona :Lynx Edicions on page 848, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.6604339