''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 (''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