On the occurrence of Apodemus Sylvaticus (Linnaeus) (Mammalia, Rodentia, Murinidae) in the Maltese Islands : with notes on other Maltese rodents

Abstract

Rodents have for a long time received due attention on the Maltese Islands, mainly from a medical outlook. The recognition that the rat flea Xenopsylla chropsis (Roths.) was responsible for the transmission of the plague bacillus resulted in determined efforts by the Medical authorities to maintain a strict control over the rodent population. Efforts to eradicate the rat population from various towns and villages in Malta and Gozo were made with scientific precision using a systematic plan of bait laying. Live rats were in addition examined regularly for fleas and plague infection. In spite of the specimen numbers examined over the years, this study apparently stimulated little interest in species identification, so that the Apodemus sylvaticus remained unidentified until G. Lanfranco (1969) reported his finding a dead specimen on a country road. The species had been previously identified from two mandibular rami from Ghar Dalam deposits collected by G. Caton Thompson (DMA Bate, 1925). This present record is the first record of a live specimen taken from Malta, and confirms the presence of this species on the Islands.