146 U.S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 275 



Figure 28. — Statistical comparison of length of auditory bulla of the subspecies of Gerbillus 

 campestris. Notation remains the same as in figure 27. 



Gerbillus grobbeni Klaptocz 



Gerbillus (Dipodillus) grobbeni Klaptocz, Zool. Jahrb. Syst., vol. 27, p. 252, 1909 

 (Derna, Cyrenaica, Libya). 



Remarks. No specimens of this gerbil were obtained in the present 

 study. Judging from measurements given in the original description, 

 this species most likely represents Gerbillus amoenus. Zavattari (1934) 

 reported G. grobbeni from Libya, but mentioned no specimens other 

 than those from the type locality. Later, Ellerman and Morrison-Scott 

 (1951) suggested that G. grobbeni probably represented Gerbillus nanus 

 Blanford. Toschi (1954) referred specimens from Derna and the Wadi 

 el Kuf to G. grobbeni but considered the latter as a subspecies of 

 Gerbillus dasyurus (Wagner). Setzer (1957) tried unsuccessfully to 

 obtain topotypes of this species but made no comments regarding its 

 probable status. 



In the present work, gerbils representing the subgenus Dipodillus 

 were obtained from both the type locality at Derna and from the 

 Wadi el Kuf. These gerbils clearly represent Gerbillus campestris and 

 Gerbillus kaiseri, neither of which approach very closely the measure- 

 ments and description of G. grobbeni as given by Klaptocz in the 

 original description. 



This species is considered to be of doubtful validity but is being 

 retained until such time as specimens are available to establish its 

 true status. 



