RODENTS OF LIBYA 197 



Toschi (1954) assigned specimens from Ras el Ferg, Barce and Beng- 

 hazi, Cyrenaica Province, Libya, to S. e. aegyptiacus. Although Setzer 

 (1957) saw evidences of mole rats at Gheminez, Derna, Barce, and 

 near Agedabia, he obtained no specimens. 



In the present study, I obtained seven specimens from four localities 

 in Cyrenaica. Although they are from widely separated localities which 

 differ rather sharply in characteristics of soil, vegetative cover, and 

 climate, they are quite similar morphologically. They differ noticeably, 

 however, from representatives of S. e. aegyptiacus from Burg el Arab, 

 Western Desert Governorate, Egypt, in their smaller size of most ex- 

 ternal and cranial measurements, narrower rostra, which are more 

 constricted at the level of the infraorbital foramina, more delicate 

 zygomata, broader frontal plates of the premaxillae, larger infraorbital 

 foramina, smaller, narrower, and shorter incisors, and more smoothly 

 rounded dorsal margin of the foramen magnum. In the specimens from 

 Cyrenaica, the styliform process of the auditory bulla is more attenu- 

 ated and projects farther medially, and the angular process of the 

 mandible is smaller and more knobbed. 



The above differences would normally be sufficient to warrant con- 

 sidering these Libyan mole rats as belonging to a distinct subspecies, 

 but too few specimens are available for accurate designation. Further- 

 more, they agree rather closely with the cranial measurements given 

 for Spalax aegyptiacus in the original description. 



Despite the foregoing differences, I consider it best, until such 

 time as additional specimens of mole rats are forthcoming, to refer all 

 Libyan specimens to S. e. aegyptiacus. 



Ecological observations. Mole rats are common on the coastal 

 plain and uplands of the Cyrenaican Plateau and are relatively 

 common farther south and west along the coastal plain of the eastern 

 portion of the Gulf of Sirte. On the Cyrenaican Plateau and the Gebel 

 Achdar, they seem to prefer loose soils at the margins and bottoms 

 of the larger valleys and the more fertile soils of the higher tablelands. 

 Mounds were also observed on the rocky slopes north of El Faidia 

 near the highest point of the Cyrenaican Plateau. 



These rodents apparently attain the southwesternmost limits of 

 distribution for the species on the coastal plain south and west of 

 Agedabia. Currently they are unknown from the Tripolitanian 

 coastal plain. Mole rats occur inland for varying distances, probably 

 depending upon the amount of rainfall for a particular year. While 

 en route to Gialo in the spring of 1962, we saw fresh diggings 25 

 kilometers inland from the Mediterranean coast. Setzer (in verbis) 

 also attests to their presence in these inland localities. It is almost 

 certain that they do not occur in or near the oases of the Saharan 

 interior. 



