Volume 73, Issue 4

The diversity of Palaearctic chipmunks was analysed using a set of morphological (705 skulls from entire range) and genetic features (144 specimens, cytochrome b gene). Based on the results, we propose three taxa within Eutamias sibiricus . These are E. s. sibiricus , inhabiting Russia, the extreme northeast of the Korea Peninsula, Mongolia, Hokkaido Island, and northeast China; E. s. barberi , inhabiting the Korea Peninsula except for the extreme northeast region, and E. s. senescens , inhabiting central China.

We explored patterns of size variation for mainland and island populations of Erinaceus roumanicus . Size was expressed either as the condylobasal length of the skull or as the first eigenvector obtained from a principal components analysis of a correlation matrix with four cranial variables. Both estimators were highly correlated. The pattern of size variation across Europe was a smooth cline, with the largest hedgehogs in the south. Furthermore, size correlated positively with temperature and negatively with summer precipitation. Regression model of the mainland hedgehog size against eight climatic variables significantly overestimated size in three out of four insular populations. Insular hedgehogs tended to be smaller on remote islands and larger on islands close to the coast, their putative source of colonization. We suggest that the major driving force determining size of mainland hedgehogs might be seasonality in resource availability. Size adjustment in island hedgehogs, however, was mainly concordant with the island rule which predicts convergence towards a size of approximately 100 g. The insular response was not uniform and large size close to the mainland is possibly a result of frequent introductions.

The golden jackal ( Canis aureus ), an indigenous predator of Hungary, is listed in the Hungarian Red Data Book as an extinct species because it had disappeared from the country by the beginning of the 20th century. In the 1990s a repatriation process was started in the southern part of Hungary. To monitor the presence of jackals and/or population changes countrywide, a questionnaire survey was mailed to Hungarian game management units (GMUs) between 1997 and 2006. Proof specimens, field observations and hunting bag data were also analysed. During the study period approximately 100 proof specimens were identified. According to official hunting bag data, the number of bags reported has continuously increased for 10 years, with 11 jackals shot in 1997 and a total of 163 specimens shot up to 2006 (linear regression, R 2 =0.949, p<0.0001), which is in parallel with the four animals reported by GMUs in 1997 and the total of 67 up to 2006 (linear regression, R 2 =0.983, p<0.0001). Detection of animals and their signs proves the continuous presence and the existence of stable populations of the species. Independent data collection and analysis confirmed that golden jackals have settled in Hungary. The rate of expansion and population growth are typical of invasive species.

A first step in understanding the ecology of rodents as reservoirs and their relation with the disease they transmit is to determine their geographical distribution. This distribution can be modeled as a function of environmental variables. We georeferenced an extensive database of hantavirus reservoir Oligoryzomys nigripes (Muridae: Sigmodontinae) records in Argentina and used generalized linear models (GLMs) and genetic algorithm for rule-set prediction (GARP) to model the presence probability of this rodent as a function of multiple environmental variables. The GLMs correctly classified 86% of the sites and gave a good prediction area. The GLMs with a spatial term resulted in a probable presence area that matched the rodent occurrences too tightly, and thus was not useful to speculate on potential distribution. The GARP model resulted in a broader probable presence area for the black-footed colilargo than regression models. We suggest that the GLMs without spatial term reflect the actual distribution and should be considered for hantavirus most urgent control plans, whereas the GARP model could be regarded as the most widespread potential distribution and thus considered in long-term plans.

We recently sequenced the cytochrome- b gene of six Chinese Myotis species, added their molecular systematics into the previous molecular phylogenetic studies on the Old World Myotis , and clarified the phylogenetic status of these East Asian species. The results demonstrate that most Old World Myotis are divided into six clades, namely Clade I–Clade VII and the Ethiopian Clade. All the “ daubentonii ” species referred to here, such as Myotis capaccinii , M. daubentonii , M. longipes , M. fimbriatus , and M. macrodactylus , are divergent from each other, indicating that the questionable species M. longipes and M. fimbriatus are valid species, and supports that the morphological and behavioral resemblance in the “ daubentonii ” group are caused by convergent evolution. Myotis altarium forms a monophyletic group with two allopatric species M. ikonnikovi and M. mystacinus , suggesting that their morphological differences might have been caused by their eco-environmental differences. Our data also imply the abundance of species diversity in a certain clade, which consists of M. davidii , M. siligorensis , M. longipes , and two unidentified species M. sp1 and M. sp2 .

Spiny tree mouse Platacanthomys lasiurus is a rarely known endemic rodent, one of the two representatives of the rodent family Placanthomyidae. It inhabits the tropical forests of the Western Ghats of South India. A field survey was conducted from February 2002 to June 2005 in the Western Ghats to determine the status and distribution of this species. Intensive surveys were conducted in the Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary and the population status was assessed in 17 protected areas and 25 forest divisions using live trapping, questionnaire survey, direct observation and spot lighting. This species was recorded from 10 protected areas and 21 forest ranges, and except for the Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary all reports from other sanctuaries, namely the Neyyar, Thattekkad, Idukki, Chinnar, Eravikulam, Chimmony, Parambikulam and Aralam Wildlife Sanctuaries and Periyar Tiger Reserve, were new. This species occur in extremely low densities, and apart from the tropical evergreen forests it was also recorded in the riverine patches in the tropical moist deciduous forests. The status of this species should be elevated from the Least Concern (IUCN) category to the next category, i.e., Near Threatened.

Mafia Island is the third largest island of the Zanzibar Archipelago, and one of the only two localities where fruit bats of the genus Pteropus Brisson 1762 live in Tanzania. Even though the island is famous for this mammalian resident, there is very little known about the mammalian fauna in general on Mafia. We present collected information about the mammals of Mafia based on historical records and recent biotic surveys, and list a total of 30 species recorded from the island, three of which are reported here for the first time. With the exception of Pteropus , the fauna of Mafia is much like that of the nearby mainland of Tanzania.

Roost site selection, daily movement patterns and home range area of African bats are poorly known. We used radio-telemetry to investigate these parameters in the African bat Nycteris thebaica . The bats predominantly used antbear Orycteropus afer burrows or culverts as night roosts. Day roost sites included caves and antbear burrows. Individuals travelled an average of 1.1 km between day roosts and foraging areas, a distance similar to that predicted from a comparative study of aspect ratios. Foraging (home) ranges were relatively small and averaged 12.9 ha. The foraging range of each bat overlapped on average with the ranges of 4.3 neighbouring bats, and the area of overlap covered 49% of its foraging range. For a bat with low wingloading, N. thebaica is capable of large travelling distances, suggesting that it is a strong flyer. We suggest that antbear burrows are not limiting; however, it is likely that these bats travel beyond the foraging area for more optimal roosts such as caves.

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