Family Muridae
Brants' whistling rats are one of two whistling rat species that live in southern Africa. It is a colonial burrowing rodent, typically found in open, sandy habitats.
Range Description:
This species occurs in in the semi-arid regions of southern Africa, ranging from western South Africa, north to south-eastern Namibia and south-western Botswana.
Native Countries: Botswana; Namibia; South Africa
Diet:
They consume more than 50 plant species, enabling sufficient moisture intake not to need to drink water. Succulent green foliage, twigs and gnawed branches from bushes are taken back to the burrow to be eaten.
Reproduction:
They are semi-social, and after breeding become solitary. Pairs of adults occupy a warren until their offspring are born. Warrens are located close to each other. P. brantsii breeds opportunistically, modifying its breeding period in relation to rainfall. Within a winter rainfall area, females produce up to four litters of 1-4 young. The gestation period is 38 days. Litters attach themselves to the mother's nipples during the first week and are dragged around in foraging excursions. At 5 weeks pups have all the important behavioral characteristics of adults, such as creating their own overnight food stores, collecting nesting material, and defending a warren area against conspecifics, and is the age at which the young leave their natal nest area. The high reproductive output of females, as well as the rapid development of their young, may represent an adaptation for maximizing reproductive potential in the semi-arid areas they inhabit.
Predators:
Brants' whistling rat is so called because of its habit of calling out to each other in times of danger with a sharp, piercing whistle. Ultrasonic calls, not heard by humans, are another form of communication. Predators include snakes, jackals, honey badgers, and raptors, such as pale chanting goshawks.
