Red List of South African Species

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Least Concern (LC)
Assessors: Beryl Wilson Guy Palmer Claire Relton
Contributors: Matthew Child Nico Avenant Margaret Avery Rod Baxter Duncan MacFadyen Ara Monadjem Guy Palmer Peter Taylor Beryl Wilson
Reviewers: Beryl Wilson Guy Palmer Claire Relton

Rationale

 Listed as Least Concern in view of its wide distribution within the assessment region, its common frequency in traps and thus presumed large population, and because there are no major threats that could cause population decline. Additionally, climate change may benefit this species by expanding the arid habitats in which it thrives.

Regional population effects: There is likely to be some dispersal across regional borders of Botswana and Namibia as the range is continuous across the western parts of southern Africa. However, the dispersal capability of this species is likely to be limited by the species’ small size and areas of unsuitable habitat. A rescue effect is possible but will be limited in effect.

Distribution

The Cape Short-eared Gerbil is widely distributed across drier western and central southern Africa, ranging from South Africa northwards through Botswana, Namibia and into southwestern Angola. It may also extend marginally into southwestern Zimbabwe (Skinner & Chimimba 2005).

Within the assessment region, this species is restricted to the arid savannah and desert regions of central, western and northeastern South Africa (Monadjem et al. 2015). Current literature (Nel 2013) suggests that the range is slightly further east than previously described by Skinner and Chimimba (2005). In the North West Province, Power (2014) found that the species was only found on Molopo Nature Reserve, where they prefer sparse open shrubland, such as that along the Molopo riverbed and pan edges. Power (2014), however, notes that they are probably more widespread, as they occur on degraded landscapes (Skinner & Chimimba 2005), which are becoming increasingly more prevalent in the province (DACE 2008; DACERD 2009). There are no records from the southern Cape coastal belt or from any of the Cape Fold Mountains. The recent records from the Saldanha area may indicate a southern movement down the West Coast. A possible range contraction or local extinction may have occurred in the Tussen-die-Riviere Nature Reserve area in Free State Province where Lynch (1983) recorded this species close to the reserve, as they have not been recorded in this area in more recent years (Watson 2006). Extralimital occurrence is possible as they are sometimes kept as pets and escapees can establish local subpopulations.

Population trend

Trend

This is a common species in suitable habitat and is frequently caught in traps. While it is a seasonally abundant species, large fluctuations in numbers rarely occur (Nel 2013).

Threats

No major threats have been identified for D. auricularis. In fact, climate change may benefit this species to a limited extent, as it is capable of breeding in adverse conditions that may result in a reduction of more sensitive rodent species. This species can also exist on degraded land (Power 2014).

Uses and trade

This species is not known to be traded or utilised in any form.

Conservation

This species is found within a large number of protected areas, including Kgalagadi Transfrontier National Park, |Ai-|Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park, Goegap Nature Reserve, Namaqua National Park, Tankwa National Park, Mountain Zebra National Park, Camdeboo National Park, Augrabies National Park, Addo Elephant National Park, Karoo National Park, Doornkloof Nature Reserve and Molopo Nature Reserve. Resultantly, no conservation interventions are deemed necessary at this stage.

Recommendations for land managers and practitioners:
  • No conservation actions are currently needed for this species.
Research priorities:
  • No species-specific research priorities have been recognised, but the adaptations to changing climate and habitat conditions could be investigated under the auspices of a regional investigation.
Encouraged citizen actions:
  • Report sightings on virtual museum platforms (for example, iSpot and MammalMAP), especially outside protected areas.

References 

[@book{275,
 address = {Cambridge},
 author = {Skinner, J.D. and Chimimba, C.T.},
 publisher = {Cambridge University Press, United Kingdom},
 title = {The Mammals of the Southern African Subregion},
 year = {2005}
}
,@book{14262,
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 title = {Rodents of Sub-Saharan Africa: A Biogeographic and Taxonomic Synthesis. },
 year = {2015}
}
,@article{136713,
 author = {Lynch, C.D.},
 journal = {Navorsinge van die Nasionale Museum Bloemfontein},
 pages = {1--218},
 title = {The mammals of the Orange Free State, South Africa},
 volume = {18},
 year = {1983}
}
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 title = {Check list of the mammals of Tussen-die-Riviere Provincial Nature Reserve, Free State Province, South Africa},
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 year = {2006}
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 author = {Power RJ},
 title = {The Distribution and Status of Mammals in the North West Province.},
 year = {2014}
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,@techreport{6509,
 address = {Mmbatho, South Africa},
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 title = {North West Provincial Biodiversity Conservation Assessment Technical Report, Version 1.2.},
 year = {2009}
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,@phdthesis{6509,
 author = {Grobler CAF.},
 school = {University of Pretoria, Pretoria},
 title = {Energy and water metabolism in the Namaqua gerbil, <i>Desmodillus auricularis</i>. M.Sc. Thesis},
 year = {1993}
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 year = {2004}
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,@book{6509,
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 author = {Nel JAJ},
 publisher = {Bloomsbury Publishing},
 title = {<i>Desmodillus auricularis</i>, Cape short-eared Gerbil. Pages 266–268 in Happold DCD, editor. Mammals of Africa, Volume III: Rodents, Hares and Rabbits},
 year = {2013}
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,@techreport{6509,
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 year = {2005}
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,@article{6509,
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 volume = {43},
 year = {2011}
}
,]
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