Thomas's vlei rat

Thomas's vlei rat (Otomys thomasi) is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is endemic to Kenya's high plateau mountains of the Rift Valley.^[1][3]

Thomas's vlei rat
Conservation status
Vulnerable  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Rodentia
Family:	Muridae
Genus:	Otomys
Species:	O. thomasi
Binomial name
Otomys thomasi Osgood, 1910[2]
Synonyms
Otomys typus ssp. thomasi Bohmann 1952

Taxonomy

Osgood (1910) initially described this species as Otomys thomasi.^[2] In 2006, it would be included under Otomys orestes (afroalpine vlei rat) by Carleton & Byrne.^[1] Taylor et al. (2011) reviewed the genus Otomys and moved Otomys thomasi back to species status.^[4][1]

Conservation

It is known from less than 10 locations in Kenya and isn't recorded in protected areas, hence the assessment of the species as "Vulnerable" by the IUCN.^[1]