Hotson's Mouse-like Hamster
Encyclopedia
Hotson's Brush-tailed Mouse (Calomyscus hotsoni) also known as Hotson's Calomyscus or Hotson's Mouse-like Hamster is a species of rodent
in the Calomyscidae family.
It is endemic to southwestern Pakistan
and southeastern Iran
(Musser and Carleton, 2005; Norris et al., 2008).
after John Ernest Buttery Hotson
who collected the original 4 specimens in Balochistan
in 1918. The species had traditionally been called Hotson's Mouse-like Hamster because of the presumed relationship between members of the genus Calomyscus and the hamster
s. Musser and Carleton (1993) considered Calomyscus to be distinct enough from the hamsters to warrant a distinct subfamily. Numerous molecular studies (Michaux et al., 2001; Jansa and Weksler, 2004; Steppan et al., 2004) have supported the distinctive nature of the genus, and they are currently recognized as belonging to a distinct family, Calomyscidae (Musser and Carleton, 2005).
In order to underscore that members of the genus Calomyscus are not related to hamsters, Musser and Carlton (2005) suggested the name Hotson's Calomyscus, using the genus name as a common name. Norris et al. (2008) agreed that the use of the term "hamster" should be avoided, but disagreed with the application of a genus name in place of a common name. Although they preferred the use of a local name, they reported that the languages of southern Pakistan
do not distinguish among small rodent species (see haraam
). Instead, Norris et al. (2008) proposed that the species be referred to as Hotson's Brush-tailed Mouse, identifying a major morphological feature of the genus. Jordan et al. (2008) have since adopted this as the primary common name, but also list Hotson's Mouse-like Hamster (but not Hotson's Calomyscus). As with most species of small mammal, common names are rarely used outside of checklists and field guide
s, and most researchers employ the binomial name
, Calomyscus hotsoni.
(5 individuals), near Shergart Fort in Dadu District
(1 individual), Hingol National Park
(1 individual), and near Wadh
(2 individuals). Currently Calomyscus hotsoni is present in 4 museums: the Bombay Museum of Natural History (3 individuals), the Field Museum (1 individual), the Smithsonian (12 individuals), and the Florida Museum of Natural History
(9 individuals). With new information suggesting the species was more widespread than previously thought, Jordan et al. (2008) listed the species as Least Concern.
Calomyscus hotsoni is smaller than the other species in Pakistan (C. baluchi), and has a smaller hind foot (Norris et al., 2008). It has "black-tipped, pale yellow-brown pelage" (Norris et al., 2008:312). The two species in Pakistan are distinguishable by several cranial
characteristics and gene
tic evidence suggests they diverged roughly 2 million years ago (Norris et al., 2008).
in the same areas.
Rodent
Rodentia is an order of mammals also known as rodents, characterised by two continuously growing incisors in the upper and lower jaws which must be kept short by gnawing....
in the Calomyscidae family.
It is endemic to southwestern Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
and southeastern Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
(Musser and Carleton, 2005; Norris et al., 2008).
Name
The species was named by Oldfield ThomasOldfield Thomas
Oldfield Thomas FRS was a British zoologist.Thomas worked at the Natural History Museum on mammals, describing about 2,000 new species and sub-species for the first time. He was appointed to the Museum Secretary's office in 1876, transferring to the Zoological Department in 1878...
after John Ernest Buttery Hotson
John Ernest Buttery Hotson
Sir John Ernest Buttery Hotson, KCSI, OBE, VD was an administrator in India during the British Raj. Born in Glasgow to Hamilton and Margaret Hotson, he was educated at Edinburgh Academy and Magdalen College, Oxford, graduating BA in 1899, and MA...
who collected the original 4 specimens in Balochistan
Balochistan (region)
Balochistan or Baluchistan is an arid, mountainous region in the Iranian plateau in Southwest Asia; it includes part of southeastern Iran, western Pakistan, and southwestern Afghanistan. The area is named after the numerous Baloch tribes, Iranian peoples who moved into the area from the west...
in 1918. The species had traditionally been called Hotson's Mouse-like Hamster because of the presumed relationship between members of the genus Calomyscus and the hamster
Hamster
Hamsters are rodents belonging to the subfamily Cricetinae. The subfamily contains about 25 species, classified in six or seven genera....
s. Musser and Carleton (1993) considered Calomyscus to be distinct enough from the hamsters to warrant a distinct subfamily. Numerous molecular studies (Michaux et al., 2001; Jansa and Weksler, 2004; Steppan et al., 2004) have supported the distinctive nature of the genus, and they are currently recognized as belonging to a distinct family, Calomyscidae (Musser and Carleton, 2005).
In order to underscore that members of the genus Calomyscus are not related to hamsters, Musser and Carlton (2005) suggested the name Hotson's Calomyscus, using the genus name as a common name. Norris et al. (2008) agreed that the use of the term "hamster" should be avoided, but disagreed with the application of a genus name in place of a common name. Although they preferred the use of a local name, they reported that the languages of southern Pakistan
Languages of Pakistan
Languages of Pakistan include two official languages: Urdu, which is also Pakistan's national language and lingua franca, and English. Additionally, Pakistan has four major provincial languages: Punjabi, Pashto, Sindhi, Farsi and Balochi, as well as three major regional languages: Saraiki, Hindko...
do not distinguish among small rodent species (see haraam
Haraam
Haraam is an Arabic term meaning "forbidden", or "sacred". In Islam it is used to refer to anything that is prohibited by the word of Allah in the Qur'an or the Hadith Qudsi. Haraam is the highest status of prohibition given to anything that would result in sin when a Muslim commits it...
). Instead, Norris et al. (2008) proposed that the species be referred to as Hotson's Brush-tailed Mouse, identifying a major morphological feature of the genus. Jordan et al. (2008) have since adopted this as the primary common name, but also list Hotson's Mouse-like Hamster (but not Hotson's Calomyscus). As with most species of small mammal, common names are rarely used outside of checklists and field guide
Field guide
A field guide is a book designed to help the reader identify wildlife or other objects of natural occurrence . It is generally designed to be brought into the 'field' or local area where such objects exist to help distinguish between similar objects...
s, and most researchers employ the binomial name
Binomial nomenclature
Binomial nomenclature is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, both of which use Latin grammatical forms, although they can be based on words from other languages...
, Calomyscus hotsoni.
Distribution and characteristics
Because it was only known from the 4 specimens of the type series at the time, Baillie (1996) categorized Hotson's Brush-tailed Mouse as endangered. Musser and Carleton (2005 later referred 12 individuals collected by Gary Ranck in 1962 from southeastern Iran to this species. Norris et al. (2008) reported collecting C. hotsoni in Panjgur DistrictPanjgur District
Panjgur is a district in the west of Balochistan province of Pakistan. Panjgur was one of the three tehsils of Makran District until 1 July 1977 when that district became Makran Division and Panjgur became a district...
(5 individuals), near Shergart Fort in Dadu District
Dadu District
Dadu is a district of Sindh Province, Pakistan.Dadu district was created in 1933 by the British Indian administration by merging Kotri and Kohistan tehsils from Karachi district and Mehar, Khairpur Nathan Shah, Dadu, Johi and Sehwan tehsils from Larkana district. The population of the district is...
(1 individual), Hingol National Park
Hingol National Park
Hingol National Park or Hungol National Park covers about 1,650 km². and is the largest of National Parks of Pakistan and lies on the Makran coast in Balochistan and approximately 190 km from Karachi. It winds through the Hungol valley between high cliffs. . The area was for the first...
(1 individual), and near Wadh
Wadh
Wadh is a town in the Khuzdar District of Balochistan, Pakistan. The population of the town was 48.950 according to the 1998 census. Most of the inhabitants of the sub-district belong to the Mengal tribe...
(2 individuals). Currently Calomyscus hotsoni is present in 4 museums: the Bombay Museum of Natural History (3 individuals), the Field Museum (1 individual), the Smithsonian (12 individuals), and the Florida Museum of Natural History
Florida Museum of Natural History
The Florida Museum of Natural History is the State of Florida's official state-sponsored and chartered natural history museum. Its main facilities are located on the campus of the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida....
(9 individuals). With new information suggesting the species was more widespread than previously thought, Jordan et al. (2008) listed the species as Least Concern.
Calomyscus hotsoni is smaller than the other species in Pakistan (C. baluchi), and has a smaller hind foot (Norris et al., 2008). It has "black-tipped, pale yellow-brown pelage" (Norris et al., 2008:312). The two species in Pakistan are distinguishable by several cranial
Skull
The skull is a bony structure in the head of many animals that supports the structures of the face and forms a cavity for the brain.The skull is composed of two parts: the cranium and the mandible. A skull without a mandible is only a cranium. Animals that have skulls are called craniates...
characteristics and gene
Gene
A gene is a molecular unit of heredity of a living organism. It is a name given to some stretches of DNA and RNA that code for a type of protein or for an RNA chain that has a function in the organism. Living beings depend on genes, as they specify all proteins and functional RNA chains...
tic evidence suggests they diverged roughly 2 million years ago (Norris et al., 2008).
Natural history
Calomyscus hotsoni is found at elevations ranging from 67–1890 meters (Jordan et al., 2008). It tends to be found in rocky habitats in arid regions particularly in association with dwarf palms (Nannorrhops ritchieana). Norris et al. (2008) report having captured Mus saxicola and Acomys dimidiatusAcomys dimidiatus
The Eastern or Arabian Spiny Mouse is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. They have a wide range, having been found in Middle Eastern deserts as well as being prevalent in riverine forests in Africa. This is the only species of spiny mouse which may have black coloration...
in the same areas.