habitat_narrative

Terrestrial

This species occupies open grassland and shrubland habitats on the upper slopes of hilly terrain and Restio-dominated rocky mountain fynbos (Taylor 2013). While some Otomys species can occupy disturbed habitats such as lush overgrown lawns and gardens, young pine plantations, and rank vegetation along drainage lines and roads (Taylor 1998), it is not known if the species can persist in modified habitats. Taylor et al. (1993) provide morphometric data that completely separates O. karoensis from O. irroratus.

Ecosystem and cultural services: Vlei rats are important food for a number of mammalian predators,  as well as raptors such as marsh owls and barn owls (Skinner and Chimimba 2005, Monadjem et al. 2015). For example, Vlei rats are favoured food by the Serval (Bowland 1990), so their range expansion could be interrelated (Power 2014).