''Taterillus'' is a
genus
Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...
of
rodent
Rodents (from Latin , 'to gnaw') are mammals of the Order (biology), order Rodentia ( ), which are characterized by a single pair of continuously growing incisors in each of the upper and Mandible, lower jaws. About 40% of all mammal specie ...
s.
The species within this genus can only be reliably distinguished on the basis of
karyotype
A karyotype is the general appearance of the complete set of chromosomes in the cells of a species or in an individual organism, mainly including their sizes, numbers, and shapes. Karyotyping is the process by which a karyotype is discerned by de ...
, and not by external appearance.
The genus contains the following species:
*
Robbins's tateril (''Taterillus arenarius'')
*
Congo gerbil (''Taterillus congicus'')
*
Emin's gerbil
Emin's gerbil or Emin's tateril (''Taterillus emini'') is a species of rodent found in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan, and Uganda. Its natural habitats are dry savanna, subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland, ...
(''Taterillus emini'')
*
Gracile tateril (''Taterillus gracilis'')
*
Harrington's gerbil
Harrington's gerbil or Harrington's tateril (''Taterillus harringtoni'') is a species of rodent found in the Central African Republic, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. Its natural habitats are dry savanna, subtropical ...
(''Taterillus harringtoni'') – doubtfully distinct from ''T. emini'', which has the same chromosome count.
[
* Lake Chad gerbil (''Taterillus lacustris'')
* Petter's gerbil (''Taterillus petteri'')
* Senegal gerbil (''Taterillus pygargus'')
* Tranieri's tateril (''Taterillus tranieri'')
]
References
Rodent genera
Taxa named by Oldfield Thomas
Taxonomy articles created by Polbot
{{Gerbillinae-stub