RODENTS OF LIBYA 97 



other more ephemeral plants. The specimens from near Sirte were 

 collected from the abundant vegetation of the coastal plain. At this 

 locality, the soil is composed of firmly packed clay and sand, and 

 dunes are lacking. 



Throughout much of its range in northern Tripolitania, this 

 subspecies occurs with members of Gerbillus aureus and Gerbillus 

 gerbillus. 



Gerbillus eatoni inflatus, new subspecies 



Holotype. Adult male, skin and skull, USNM 325527, from 10 km 

 SW Fort Capuzzo, Cyrenaica Province, Libya; obtained June 1, 1962, 

 by G. L. Ranck, original no. 2203. 



Specimens examined. Seven, all from the type locality. 



Measurements. Averages and extremes of five adult males and the 

 measurements of an adult female, 325528, from the type locality, 

 with the measurements of the type in brackets, are, respectively: 

 Total length 226 (218-236), 219, [225]; length of tail 125 (121-131), 

 120, [123]; length of hind foot 27.2 (26-28), 27, [26]; length of ear 15.4 

 (15-16), 16, [15]; occipitonasal length of skull 30.6 (29.9-31.7), 30.2, 

 [30.5]; length of auditory bulla 11.1 (10.7-11.6), 11.2, [11.2]; crown 

 length of upper molariform toothrow 3.9 (3.7-4), 3.9, [3.7]; greatest 

 breadth across zygomatic arches 16.1 (15.6-16.4), 16.2, [16]; least 

 interorbital breadth 5.9 (5.5-6.5), 6.1, [5.6]; breadth of rostrum at 

 level of antorbital foramina 3 (2.8-3.1), 2.9, [3.1]; greatest length of 

 nasals 11.7 (11.4-12.3), 12, [11.5]. 



Diagnosis. Middorsal region uniformly colored Sayal Brown grad- 

 ing to Clay Color on sides (one specimen, 325559, represents a 

 very old male and is noticeably lighter and more brilliant in dorsal 

 color with decidedly yellowish hues rather than brownish tones) ; 

 subauricular region suffused with blackish hairs; postauricular patch 

 distinct and white; rostral, mystacial, supraorbital, and pectoral areas, 

 dorsal surfaces of forelegs, hindlegs, feet, and entire underparts white; 

 some specimens with a faint buffy patch on lateral surface of forearm; 

 pinna of ear Antimony Yellow basally and becoming darker distally; 

 anteromedial surface of pinna covered with ochraceous hairs which 

 extend laterally to anterior margin of pinna as a distinct tuft; eye ring 

 black; vibrissae short and formed from equal numbers of light and 

 dark hairs; fore and hind feet sparsely haired ventrally and with five 

 digits bearing claws; ground color of tail uniformly Cinnamon with 

 slight admixture of brownish hairs dorsally and buffy hairs ventrally; 

 pencil indistinct and Avellaneous. Skull: Relatively large and massive; 

 auditory bullae conspicuously large and inflated ; braincase moderately 

 vaulted ; upper molariform teeth relatively small and toothrow bowing 

 slightly laterally; anterior palatine foramina large and expanded 

 laterally; posterior palatine canals wide and distinct; pterygoid 

 fossae shallow. 



