Mammals of the Babille Elephant Sanctuary (Eastern Ethiopia)

Abstract

ABSTRACT. The paper presents the results of a first attempt to document the mammals of the Babille Elephant Sanctuary (Eastern Ethiopia). Four species (Nycteris thebaica, Lavia frons, Mus tenellus, Helogale parvula) were documented for the first time in the Sanctuary, two species (Rhinolophus fumigatus, Mastomys awashensis) were found new for eastern Ethiopia and the presence of another species (Neoromicia zuluensis) was confirmed for the first time within the limits of Ethiopia. Moreover, genetic and chromosomal characteristics of two rodents (Acomys sp. and Gerbilliscus cf. robustus) suggested new undescribed species. In total, according to our current estimate based on original data and previously published literature, the mammal fauna of the Sanctuary includes 59 species belonging to 11 orders, 30 families and 51 genera. The Babille Elephant Sanctuary has significant conservation value due to its high mammal species diversity and complex structure of the fauna including elements with different zoogeographic affinities.

Annotated checklist, taxonomy and distribution of rodents in Ethiopia

“…"Ign1" (sensu Aghová et al 2019) This presumably new species was mentioned for the first time as a genetically and cytogenetically very divergent lineage (A. sp. "C") by Lavrenchenko et al (2010) Acomys louisae (Yalden et al 1976(Yalden et al , 1996 Acomys louisae (GBIF, Sep 18, 2018) locality of this species, but it is very abundant there (our unpublished data). However, we suspect that it may have a wider distribution in poorly sampled regions of south-eastern Ethiopia and Somalia (see similar pattern in gerbils; Aghová et al 2017).…”

“…It shares the same chromosomal formula with M. natalensis (2n = 32) but differs by some structural changes (Lavrenchenko et al 1998, Colangelo et al 2010. It has been previously considered as an Ethiopian endemic in the Awash valley (type locality), but increasing genetic data suggests its wider distribution in Ethiopia (Colangelo et al 2010, Lavrenchenko et al 2010 and perhaps spilling over into neighbouring countries, e.g. Eritrea.…”

“…The comparison with the type material of A. mullah, described from nearby town Harar, is necessary. The karyotype of specimens from Babile is 2n = 44, NF = 68 (Lavrenchenko et al 2010(Lavrenchenko et al , 2011. Acomys percivali Dollman, 1911 This is phylogenetically the most distinct genetic taxon in the wilsoni group (sensu Aghová et al 2019), which is represented in Ethiopia by two clearly distinct species (A. percivali and A. wilsoni).…”

“…"Babile" (sensu Aghová et al 2017) Gerbilliscus sp. "Babile" was first reported as a genetically distinct lineage (12.5-17.6 % genetic distance at cyt b gene from other species in the eastern clade; see Aghová et al 2017) from the Babile Elephant Sanctuary in eastern Ethiopia (Lavrenchenko et al 2010). Aghová et al (2017) genotyped additional individuals of this species from the same site, but also museum specimens from additional localities in Ethiopia and Somalia.…”

Multilocus phylogeny of East African gerbils (Rodentia, Gerbilliscus) illuminates the history of the Somali‐Masai savanna

“…The first, Gerbilliscus sp. n. (Babile), was first reported as a genetically distinct lineage (12.5–17.6% CYTB genetic distance from other species in the eastern clade; see Table ) from the Babile Elephant Sanctuary in eastern Ethiopia (Lavrenchenko et al ., ). We captured additional individuals at the same site, and increased our sample by adding museum specimens from additional localities in Ethiopia and Somalia.…”