Ctenodactylus gundi
gundi

Ctenodactylus gundi, the North African gundi, can be found in Southeastern Morocco, Northern Algeria, Tunisia and Libya (Macdonald, 1984; Walker, 1975).

The North African gundi is found in deserts with arid rock outcrops. Its habitat may also include a rocky slope on a hill or mountain (Macdonald, 1984; Walker, 1975).

The North African gundi ranges in size from 16-20cm for its head body length. It has a tiny tail, a mere whisp of hairs that is about 10 to 20mm long.

Gundis have very short legs, flat ears, big eyes, and long whiskers. It has been said that when seen crouched on a rock in the sun with the wind blowing through their fur, they look like powder puffs (Macdonald, 1984). They have compact bodies, resembling guinea pigs in external appearance. Each of their feet has four digits, the two inner digits of the hind foot have comblike bristles that stand out against their dark claws. The claws are not enlarged but are very sharp (Walker, 1975).

The skull of the North African gundi is broad posteriorly. It has a straight palate. The cheek teeth are rootless (ever growing) and they have the following dental formula: 1/1 0/0 1-2/1-2/ 3/3 X2= 20 or 24 (Walker, 1975).

Gundis are gregarious. They live in colonies varying in density depending on the food supply and the terrain. Within colonies family territories are occupied by a male, female, and juvenile or by several females and offspring. Gundis make their homes in the shelter of rock outcroppings. These are usually temporary. Characteristically, a shelter retains the day's heat through a cold night and stays cool during a hot day. In the winter, gundis pile on top of each other to stay warm. The juveniles are protected from the crush by their mothers or are wrapped in the soft fur at the back of her neck (Macdonald, 1984).

Long distance foraging generates body heat, which can be dangerous on a hot desert day. Therefore, gundis display behavior characteristics much resembling those of lizards. They sunbathe in the early morning until the temperature rises above 20 °C (68°F) and then begin foraging. After a quick feed, they flatten themselves again on the warm rocks. Thus they make use of the sun to keep their bodies warm and to speed digestion. By the time the temperature reaches 32°C (90°F), the gundis have taken shelter in the shade of the rocks and do not come out again until the temperature drops in the afternoon (Macdonald, 1984).

Gundis communicate by making a chirping sound. In the dry desert air and the rocky terrain their low-pitched alert calls carry well. They also thump with their hind feet when alarmed. After hearing a warning, gundis scurry under the rocks and out of harm's way. In fact, gundis are able to flatten their ribs in order to squeeze into a crack in the rocks (Macdonald, 1984; Walker, 1975).

On sloping surfaces, the North African gundi presses its body against the wall and uses the slightest irregularities in the obstruction to ascend almost perpendicularly (Walker, 1975).

Another common characteristic of gundis is that they rapidly scratch their rump in a circular motion with the combed instep on their feet (Macdonald, 1984).

The diet of C. gundi consists of a variety of vegetation. Leaves, stalks, flowers, and the seeds of almost any desert plant (including grass and acacia) are used as sustenance (Macdonald, 1984).

Typically, gundis forage over long distances due to the scarcity of food available in their desert habitats. They may forage up to 1 kilometer (.6 mi) per morning. Their home range size varies from a few square meters to 3 square kilometers (1.9 sq mi) (Macdonald, 1984).

Regular foraging is essential because gundis do not store food. When long foraging expeditions are necessary gundis alternate feeding in the sun and cooling off in the shade. In extreme drought gundis eat at dawn when plants contain the most moisture.

Interestingly, gundis do not drink. They get most of their water intake from the plants they eat (Macdonald, 1984; Walker, 1975). Their kidneys have long tubules for absorbing water and their urine can be concentrated if plants dry out completely. However, this is an emergency response and can only be sustained for a limited time period (Macdonald, 1984).

Another interesting fact about their foraging foraging is that while most rodents are good gnawers, gundis are not because they lack the hard orange enamel on the outer surfaces of their incisors (Macdonald, 1984).

North African gundis could potentially be destructive to crops, gardens and such where their ranges overlap with human habitation.

In the mid-19th century the explorer John Speke shot gundis in the coastal hills of Somalia. It is not known if this was done for sport or for food, but potentially gundis could be used as both (Macdonald, 1984).

It is known that some Arabian tribes hunt gundis for food during the twilight hours (Walker, 1975).

This species is not on the endangered species list.

In 1908, two French doctors isolated a protozoan parasite now known to occur in almost every mammal, in the spleen of a North African gundi. They called it Toxoplasma gondii (Macdonald, 1984).

Twilight, in the common speech of the Arabians whom inhabit this region, is called "the hour when the gundi comes out" (Walker, 1975).