Mpanga/Kipengere Game Reserve - Frontier-publications.co.uk

Mpanga / Kipengere Game Reserve; A Biodiversity Survey
Table 4 A summary of fauna recorded in the afro-montane forest-grassland mosaic of the Mpanga/Kipengere Game
Reserve.
Taxa Number of families Number of species
Mammals 15 31
Birds 54 199
Reptiles 4 13
Amphibians 5 15
Butterflies 5 61
Total 83 319
*Bird numbers presented are for the mid-altitude miombo woodland and the Afromontane forest-grassland mosaic together, as birds are a taxa that
move easily between habitats and are thus not easy to segregate into habitat types.
• Mammals
At least 31 species of native mammals representing 15 families were recorded in the areas of forestgrassland
mosaic areas of the reserve (Appendix 8). Although the identification of most species is certain,
those of species that were captured remains tentative whilst awaiting taxonomic verifications (i.e. all small
mammals including bats). All taxonomy and nomenclature follows that of Kingdon (1997).
Two primate species, Moloney’s monkey (Cercopithecus mitis moloneyei) and the Black and White
Colobus (Colobus angolensis sharpie) were recorded frequently in every forest patch in the gullies of the
mountains. These are Southern Highland endemic subspecies, which are forest dependent and thus
vulnerable to local activities, such as pitsawing. The Black and White Colobus is listed in IUCN as locally
vulnerable.
There was a wide diversity and abundance of small mammal species, predominantly found in the montane
forest areas. These were all forest dependent species, so again potentially vulnerable to forest destruction.
Such species found were the: Soft-furred rat (Promys cf. delectorum), Climbing shrew (Sylvisorex sp.) and
the Mouse shrew (Myosorex sp.), the latter of which is likely to be localised to the area. The Lesser
pouched rat subspecies (Beamys hindei major) has a restricted range situated in montane forests of
Southern Tanzania and Malawi. The Four-striped mouse (Rhabdomys pumilio) has a discontinuous
distribution, although it is not uncommon and therefore not threatened. The Narrow-footed woodland
mouse (Grammomys comete) has a restricted range of the wet montane areas of north and south Lake
Nyasa.
Indirect signs indicated the presence of a small carnivores in the highland area: Black-backed jackal (Canis
mesomelas), Serval cat (Felis serval) and Wild cat (Felis sylvestris).
Domestic cows, goats, sheep and donkeys were seen grazing throughout grassy areas of the forestgrassland
mosaic, however they were absent from the forest patches (Section 4.2.3).
• Birds
At least 199 species of bird representing 54 families were recorded in Mpanga/Kipengere Game Reserve, in
a diverse array of habitats, including open grassland, montane forest, miombo woodland, riverine forest and
rocky cliffs. All identifications are considered certain, except six species, which are indicated with a
question mark in the bird list (Appendix 9). All taxonomy and nomenclature follows that of Baker (2002).
Interesting findings included the possible sighting of the Blue Swallow (Hirundo atrocaerulea), which is
globally threatened species. The Scarlet-tufted sunbird (Nectarinia jonhstoni) is a biome restricted species
found only in alpine moorlands from 3 000 – 4 500m asl, thus it is also a threatened species.
Other range restricted birds, which are endemic to Southern Tanzania, especially the southern highlands
are: Mountain Greenbul (Andropadus nigriceps race chlorigula), Churring Cisticola (Cisticola njombe),
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