NEW RECORD OF TWO RODENT SPECIES FROM KHENCHELA REGION (EAST OF ALGERIA)

Abstract

Mus spretus is endemic to the Mediterranean region and Jaculus orientalis is only found in North Africa and Saudi Arabia. Their presence in Algeria was previously evidenced in other studies, the present paper focuses on the recent discovery of the Jaculus orientalis Erxleben, 1777 and Mus spretus Lataste, 1883 in a new locality of the East of Algeria, in Khenchela region (Aurès Mountain), based on weight and external measurements. The sampling period took four months between April and July 2019. This observation will enrich the knowledge of Algerian Rodents fauna in general and of Khenchela in particular.