Volume 83, Issue 1

We have a poor understanding of the ecology of many African small mammals due to a lack of basic research. This has important conservation implications, particularly for range-restricted species in tropical regions. In this study, we provide new insight into the distribution and ecology of one such species, the Nimba otter-shrew ( Micropotamogale lamottei Heim de Balsac 1954). We apply niche and occupancy modeling to inform on the range and habitat use of this semi-aquatic species. We estimate that its global range [extent of occurrence (EOO)] is 14,725 km 2 . Using occupancy modeling, we show that mining has a direct impact on the occurrence of this species. We also provide preliminary observations of its movements through radio-tracking. Using maximum entropy (Maxent) modeling, we identify the North Lorma National Forest and the Wonegizi range (northern Liberia) that appear suitable for this species, but where it has not yet been recorded. We suggest that the Nimba otter-shrew has a global distribution centered on the Mount Nimba region, straddling the borders of Liberia, Guinea and Côte d’Ivoire, and that it requires urgent conservation attention to ensure its long-term persistence. Finally, we provide evidence to support an uplisting of its IUCN Red List conservation status to Vulnerable.

Ctenomys famosus is one of the less known species of the genus, both in systematic and in phylogenetic aspects, as well as in its distribution and natural history. So far the only known specimens of this species are those from the type series, collected at the two localities mentioned in the original description, in La Rioja province, Argentina. We here provide new information about the species as well as some comments about the type locality, and add a new point to its known geographical distribution. In addition, the capture of topotypes allowed us to add unpublished information on molecular, morphological and cranial variables of the species. The phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial gene cytochrome b sequences positions C. famosus in the context of the existing phylogenetic hypotheses and proposals for the genus as belonging to the “ mendocinus group”. This information can serve as a basis for future research that favors clarifying the evolutionary panorama of the group at the regional level, as well as for completing the existing relationships within the complex of the Argentine species of the genus.

We studied the social structure of long-tailed porcupine ( Trichys fasciculata ) in the tropical rainforest in Sabah, Borneo Island, Malaysia via direct observation assisted by radio-tracking and camera-trapping at burrow entrances. We identified and observed seven individuals in the study area, of which five were radio-tagged. Analysis of their burrow use, home range, and behaviour strongly suggested that five of the observed individuals formed a family group consisting of an adult male–female pair and their three offspring, two of which were born during the study period. The family members used the same burrow site almost every day, and their home ranges largely overlapped. In contrast, the other two individuals never used the burrow sites of this family group. The adult male–female pair was maintained for at least 18 months and reproduced twice during the study period. They had a litter size of one, and the inter-litter interval was estimated to be 11 months. During these two reproductions, the previous litter stayed in the natal family group as a sub-adult after the next juvenile was born. Direct paternal care, such as grooming the juvenile, was also observed. Their low reproductive potential should be considered in conservation efforts.

We examined the feeding strategy of two dominant rodents, the common vole ( Microtus arvalis ) and the pygmy field mouse ( Apodemus uralensis ), in set-aside fields over a period of 1 year. Diet analysis revealed dominance of green plant shoots in common vole’s diet and seeds in the diet of the pygmy field mouse. Food availability in the set-aside fields was strongly correlated with the diet of the herbivorous common vole, but not with that of the granivorous pygmy-field mouse. Both feeding strategies reflect specific morphological adaptations of the digestive tract of both species. A comparison of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT; length and mass without oesophagus; including contents) of the common vole and pygmy field mouse revealed a correlation between body size and length and the GIT weight in both species. The common vole had a proportionally heavier GIT with a larger of the common vole and pygmy field mouse relative proportion of caecum. The GIT length was proportionally greater in juvenile females, while the GIT weight was greater in adult females of both species. The GIT morphometry of both species varied with season and reproductive status, presumably as food consumed altered in line with vegetation phenology and the rodent’s energy requirements.

Knowledge about the feeding ecology of didelphid marsupials remains incipient, especially in environments with marked seasonality in resource supply, such as in the Cerrado. We analysed the diet composition of Thylamys macrurus in Cerrado patches in central-western Brazil. We also evaluated seasonal and sexual variation in the species’ diet, as well as if the accumulation of fat in the tail shows a seasonal pattern. We obtained 87 captures of 68 T. macrurus specimens and 29 faecal samples. Six categories of food items (Hymenoptera, Isoptera, Coleoptera, Arachnida, Blattodea and seeds) were identified. Arthropods were recorded in all samples and seeds in 10.3%. The species showed seasonal variation in diet, consuming primarily of arthropods throughout the year but incorporating a higher proportion of fruits during the wet season. Males and females also differed in diet composition; males consumed a wider range of items in the dry season. Although more detailed analyses are still needed to better understand the T. macrurus food consumption pattern, our results indicate a possible relationship between dietary variation and local availability of resources, suggesting an opportunistic foraging pattern. The accumulation of fat in the tail also presents a seasonal pattern, with a larger tail diameter in the dry season.

The stomach content of a male, immature dwarf minke whale ( Balaenoptera acutorostrata subsp.) stranded in September of 2008 in southern Brazil revealed a large consumption of the Argentine shortfin squid ( Illex argentinus ), probably in multiple feeding events. Stable isotopes signals from kidney and liver samples of the whale are consistent with values for this squid species, and prey size indicates consumption over spawning aggregations near the continental slope off southern Brazil. The present record adds a new prey species for dwarf minke whale and reinforces the hypothesis that some baleen whales could feed in middle latitudes of the Brazilian coast.

Insectivorous bats are a difficult group of mammals to survey because they are small, nocturnal, fly and often roost in hard to reach places during the day. However, bats should not be neglected from biodiversity assessments because they play pivotal roles in pest regulation and as biological indicators. We used acoustic detectors to sample bat species richness at three sites within the Mapungubwe National Park (MNP), South Africa during the austral winter and summer of 2013. A minimum of 11 species from six families were recorded, with the clutter-edge foraging bats (Miniopteridae and Vespertilionidae) and open-air foraging bats (Molossidae), dominating. Bat activity was significantly higher in summer compared to winter and this is likely linked to higher prey availability and reduced thermoregulatory costs at this time. Our results represent the first assessment of bat species richness in the MNP and our data compare favourably with historical records for the region. In addition, we provide evidence for the presence of at least one undescribed species. We advocate the use of acoustic detectors for future bat surveys as long as comprehensive reference call library data are available.

Non-invasive age estimation is critically important for many field studies but often it represents a significant challenge. In rodents, upper incisors represent a part of a cranium which can be readily measured in an alive animal. We propose an age estimation method based on the measurements of both upper incisors’ width (IW) for a subterranean rodent, Ellobius tancrei . The IW measurements for 77 laboratory-born females and 81 males were fitted, separately for the sexes, by sigmoidal Gompertz growth functions to obtain the asymptotic values. Based on the data set encompassing pre-asymptotic ages, we then derived a polynomial regression model with log-transformed age as а predictor. The analysis revealed no statistically significant sex difference in growth patterns. Derived model explained 91% of IW variation and was used to obtain predicted values of age and their 95% prediction intervals through inverse calculations. We conclude that IW is a potentially useful age indicator for mole voles and possibly other rodents in cases when invasive or time-consuming methods are non-appropriate.

The present study aims at quantifying the error in visual sexing of live-trapped bank voles and evaluating if animal body weight and experience of field workers affected the ability to determine the sex of voles. The error in sex attribution involved 25.6% of non-reproductive individuals, pointing out the need to validate the field sex identification. Body weight of voles did not affect the ability of trappers to visually discriminate the sex of animals. Field workers had similar percentages of error independently of their expertise in vole sexing but they also showed a sex-bias in wrongly sexed individuals.

This article reports data on the distribution of the Cuvier’s gazelle in the mountains of Ait Tamlil and Anghomar, Central High Atlas. In this study, a combination of standardized interviews combined with a field survey to gather information about gazelles in the region was used. Results confirm the presence of the Cuvier’s gazelle in the high summits of the region limited by the villages of Tikhfist, Megdaz and the lake of Tamda n’Anghomar. The species is threatened by overhunting and habitat destruction. The conservation of Gazella cuvieri is required to increase habitat protection, to enforce the law against capturing gazelles and to raise the awareness of local people about the conservation of this mammal.

Diurnal flight and foraging activity in insectivorous bats are atypical behaviours that have been recorded from islands with few avian predators and from locations with extended daylight hours. We present the first known observations of diurnal activity of Rhinolophus lepidus in forests on Tioman Island, Malaysia, recorded using visual surveys and acoustic monitoring. The bats were flying during the day and at night, and feeding buzzes detected suggest that they were actively foraging during the day. This appears to be a regular phenomenon on Tioman Island. The absence of resident diurnal avian predators that hunt below the forest canopy may account for the diurnal activity of R. lepidus in forests there.

The maximum entropy (Maxent) model was used to predict the distribution of Persian leopards and wild sheep in the Tang-e-Sayad protected area in Iran. For this purpose, eight variables, as well as 30 occurrence points of leopard and 98 points of wild sheep, were used. Two techniques, density-based occurrence points thinning and performance-based predictor variables selection were used to improve the results of the model. The model results were analyzed based on four threshold limit-based statistics (sensitivity, specificity, kappa and true skill statistics) and area under the curve (AUC), followed by determining the relative importance of variables based on the jackknife procedure. The results of threshold limit-based statistics revealed that the success of the model for distribution prediction of leopard and wild sheep were good and relatively good, respectively. According to the jackknife procedure, for wild sheep and for leopard, slope and distance to road, respectively, were the most important predictor variables. The results also indicated that the efficiency of the model did not improve by reducing the density of occurrence points for the wild sheep (AUC=0.784–0.773). However, the selection of predictor variables slightly improved the performance of the model (AUC=0.794–0.819). The results of the study also showed overlapping habitat for two species due to both human and ecological reasons for which we proposed some conservation actions such as excluding domestic grazing, controlling illegal poaching and restoration of old migratory corridors.

Mus booduga (Gray 1837) is a mesic rodent, recorded for the first time from the cold arid region of Leh-Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, India. The species was collected from crop fields and nearby areas from different altitudes ranging from 3187 to 3768 m above mean sea level. The paper describes the external measurements and diagnostic features of M. booduga collected from Leh-Ladakh region. Earlier records had shown its altitudinal distribution from 250 to 3695 m above mean sea level from Uttarakhand in the Himalayan region, however in the present study the mouse was collected up to an altitude of 3768 m which is the highest elevational record of this species for the Himalayan range.

Rodents with leucism (a hypopigmentary congenital disorder) in the Neotropical region are rarely recorded. During field surveys in central Chile, we found in commercial Monterrey pine plantations a specimen of Abrothrix longipilis and a specimen of Abrothrix olivaceus with partial leucism. Another A. olivaceus exhibited complete leucism. To our knowledge, this is the second documentation of leucism in rodents from Chile and the first record of leucism in A. longipilis . Leucism may be expressed in small and isolated populations due to inbreeding. This suggests that land-use change in this area is probably affecting the genetic diversity of these rodent species.