The acacia rat (Thallomys paedulcus), or black-tailed tree rat, is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is a small arboreal rodent that is extensively dependent on Acacia trees. It is found in Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Somalia, South Africa, Eswatini, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry shrubland.
Sources
- Karantanis, N., Rychlik, L., Herrel, A., & Youlatos, D. (2017). Arboreality in acacia rats ( Thallomys paedulcusâ¯; Rodentia, Muridae): gaits and gait metrics. Journal of Zoologyâ¯: Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London., 303(2), 107âÂÂ119. https://doi.org/10.1111/jzo.12473
- Meyer, J., Steinhauser, J., Jeltsch, F., & Brandl, R. (2007). Large trees, acacia shrubs, and the density of Thallomys nigricauda in the Thornveld savannah of South Africa. Journal of Arid Environments., 68(3), 363âÂÂ370. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaridenv.2006.06.001