UTUMI Biodiversity surveys, annexes, Tanzania. - Coastal Forests of ...

4.6 Comparison of Detection Methods
Table 3: Comparison of Efficacy of Detection Methods (for legend, see Table 2)
Group
BPFL (X)
Trapping
only
TCS
only
X+TCS
only
*
only
* +
TCS
X+TCS
Amphibian 8 3 4 2 4 0 0
species
Reptile species 5 20 3 4 4 0 2
Total species 13 23 7 6 8 0 2
X+*
The TSC method was most effective for reptiles, but trapping also yielded species not detected using
any other method.
4.7 Species Detected
ANNOTATED ACCOUNTS OF SPECIES DETECTED AND/OR REPORTED TO OCCUR IN
THE AREAS SAMPLED: **= Tanzanian endemic species
Class Mammalia
Order Insectivora
Family Soricidae, “Typical” Shrews
Crocidura sp. White-toothed or Musk Shrews
Members of this genus are extremely difficult to identify. Determination to the species level requires
measurements of dental and cranial characters, and only a very few specialists are willing to identify
material from eastern Africa. Until the material has been studied in detail, it is not possible to say more
than that superficially, the diversity of shrews sampled appeared to be low. It should be noted that
compared to other sites sampled using BPFLs in Tanzania, the catch rate was very low.
Order Rodentia
Family Muridae, the muroid rodents, rats and mice
Mastomys natalensis Multi-mammate Rat
This is a widely spread species regarded as a “field rodent” and an agricultural pest. As the common
name suggests, females have up to 6 pair of mammae, and thus are able to raise large numbers of
young, and may be capable of breeding more than once a year. This species is often associated with
disturbed conditions rather than natural, undisturbed habitats.
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