Biodiversity of Mahale Mountains National Park, Tanzania | Report ...

Biodiversity of Mahale Mountains National Park
34 of these are endemic to the Altbertine Rift (Kityo 2003). It is too early in the survey
process to make an assessment of the relative position of Mahale in richness and importance
when compared to the other Albertine Rift protected areas. There are likely to be new
species of shrews described that will be strict endemics, and other species of rodents and
bats found that are more widespread in the rift.
At least one species of large mammal, the Black rhinoceros, has been extirpated from the
park. Although no records of this species were found for Mahale, the local Tongwe people
have a name for it, Pela, and it almost certainly occurred in the past.
Little is know about the Murid rodents from Mahale. It is very likely that there are two species
of Praomys in the montane forest. However, it will be very difficult to assign names to these
forest-dwelling forms until further museum work is complete. Morphological and DNA
comparisons must be made to specimens from the other Albertine Rift forests and from the
southern highlands and Eastern Arc forests of Tanzania, before conclusive statements can be
made about identifications. This situation is the same for shrews and it will be at least a year
before any further information on species level identification is forthcoming. This work will be
completed in collaboration with Bill Stanley from the Field Museum of Natural History,
Chicago.
Another group that would repay closer attention is the squirrels. The identity of the African
Giant Squirrel is not in doubt, but the species referred to as Red-legged Sun Squirrel,
Heliosciurus rufobrachium, should be looked at carefully. There are other red-legged forms
that could be confused with this species, such as the Fire-footed Rope Squirrel, Funisciururs
pyrropus. It may well be that both forms are found in Mahale. Also, there are probably at
least two forms of bush squirrel in Mahale. Loveridge (1933) records Smith’s Bush Squirrel,
Paraxerus cepapi, from the lakeshore at Kasanga (south of Mahale), and it is likely to be fond
in Miombo woodland in the park. Another species to look for in the riverine forests and
thickets will be Boehm’s Squirrel, Paraxerus boehmi. Researchers should thoroughly review
field guide accounts of these species before going into the field so they are aware of
distinguishing characters to look for when squirrels are encountered.
There were very few sightings of squirrels in montane forest at Mfitwa. Elia Mulungu saw
only one, a medium-sized non-descript species in gallery forest extending from Mfitwa down
into a deeply incised valley on the eastern slope of the Mahale ridge. It was not seen well
enough to identify it. It may be that squirrels are more active and vocal at other times of the
year and a dry season survey may well turn up more species.
Wildlife Conservation Society 10