Red List of South African Species

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

Rationale

Based on its wide distribution within the assessment region, presence within various protected areas, the fact that it is fairly regularly trapped, and the lack of major threats to this species, we list S. pratensis as Least Concern. There appears to be no population decline of this species. It is able to survive successfully in human-modified habitats, for example fallow fields, and frequently inhabits agricultural lands.

Regional population effects: Rescue effects are possible across Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. The population is not isolated, and its range is continuous throughout the savannah regions of southern Africa. Dispersal is possible both through agricultural lands and transfrontier reserves.

Distribution

Although the extent of its distribution remains under scrutiny, the range of the Fat Mouse is currently considered to stretch widely across the savannahs of southern Africa, and marginally into East Africa. The records from Kenya and Ethiopia may, however, represent misidentified specimens of S. parvus (Happold 2013; Monadjem et al. 2015). In southern Africa, this species has been recorded across northern Namibia and Botswana, throughout Zimbabwe, into parts of Mozambique, extensively into northeastern South Africa, and across Swaziland but not Lesotho (Lynch 1994). In South Africa, it has a relatively wide distribution across the Limpopo, Gauteng, North West, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal provinces (Skinner & Chimimba 2005). In the North West Province, this species is restricted to the northeastern bushveld regions (Power 2011), and its distribution probably does not extend further west than Pilanesberg National Park (Rautenbach 1982; Power 2014), although Monadjem et al. (2015) show a record more westerly on the border with Botswana.

Population trend

Trend

Although no population estimates are available for this species, the Fat Mouse is considered common within its range, occurring across a range of habitats. For example, Rautenbach et al. (2014) caught this species in a variety of habitats in Phinda Private Game Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal, as well as on surrounding pineapple and cattle farms (Rautenbach 2013). Delcros et al. (2015) caught this species in Acacia woodlands at uMkhuze Game Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal. Power (2011) recorded this species as relatively abundant in Borokalalo National Park. Additionally, it appears to benefit from agricultural land use and can be the dominant species in areas of subsistence agriculture (P. Taylor unpubl. data). While it does not display population explosions, it is regularly sampled and subpopulations are considered stable (Monadjem & Perrin 2003; Massawe et al. 2011).

Threats

There are no major threats identified for this species. It can survive on agricultural and grazed landscapes. Intensive overgrazing may be a minor threat, however, if ground cover is removed. Anecdotal reports suggest it can also survive in degraded grassland (D. MacFadyen unpubl. data), although more research is necessary. The expansion of mining will also reduce habitat for this species.

Uses and trade

Due to their high fat content, Fat Mice are utilised as bushmeat by people in some areas. Usually, they are skewered on a stick, and held over an open flame to burn off their fur. Their meat is considered a delicacy (Skinner & Chimimba 2005). However, this practice has not been reported from the assessment region and is unlikely to affect the population if it does occur locally.

Conservation

This species occurs within a number of protected areas within the assessment region, such as Kruger National Park, Borokalalo National Park, Phinda Private Game Reserve, uMkhuze Game Reserve, Nylsvlei Nature Reserve and the Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area. This species is likely to benefit from protected area expansion to incorporate additional grassland habitats. Additionally, grassland restoration projects and post-mining rehabilitation programmes, which should be the responsibility of mining industries, and enforced by local authorities, would also benefit this species.

Recommendations for land managers and practitioners:
  • The species would benefit from suitable land management: land owners should leave corridors of grassland between grazed areas and decrease stocking rates.
  • Systematic surveys needed to gather information on population size and trends.
Research priorities:
  • Taxonomic resolution of the Steatomys genus.
  • Quantification of potential threats.
  • Population size, distribution and trend estimates.
  • Diet, reproduction and general biology.
Encouraged citizen actions:
  • Report sightings on virtual museum platforms (for example, iSpot and MammalMAP), especially outside protected areas. However, due to their morphological similarities, misidentification of this species with Steatomys krebsii is common. See taxonomic note for distinguishing characteristics.

References 

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