Frontier Tanzania Environmental Research REPORT 110 ...

Kazimzumbwi Forest Reserve
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during previous surveys of the Pugu Hills (Burgess et al. 2000). The species are however
different as both Beamys hindei and Cephalophus adersi (recorded during the current study) have
not previously been recorded in the reserve.
Five species recorded within Kazimzumbwi FR are listed by IUCN as of conservation concern.
Two are listed as Endangered, both of which are forest dependent and near-endemic; the Zanj
elephant shrew Rhynchocyon petersi and Ader’s duiker Cephalophus adersi. One is listed as
Vulnerable, the forest dependent and near-endemic Lesser pouched rate Beamys hindei. Two are
listed as at Lower Risk; the forest dependent and near-endemic Zanzibar galago Galagoides
zanzibaricus and the forest dependent Natal duiker Cephalophus natalesis. Three of the primate
species recorded appear on CITES Appendix II, along with the antelope Cephalophus monticola.
The present study employed a number of survey technqiues in order to sample various groups of
mammals. With regard to mist-netting for bats, the river Mzumbwi provided a natural flight
corridor, an excellent feeding site for insectivorous bats and an ideal location for mistnetting.
Mist-netting in more open habitats, such as wooded grassland, proved far less successful.
Sherman traps were most successful in trapping rodents whilst bucket pitfall traps were more
successful with regard to shrews. It may be that shrews were not attracted to the coconut and
peanut butter bait used in Sherman traps, although small fish (dagaa) were used at one trapsite
but with no noticeable increased success rates in catching shrews. It is considered advisable to use
the combination of both trapping methods in order to fully sample small mammal fauna. It was
thought possible that larger rodent species may be able to escape bucket pitfall traps, whilst
Sherman traps may be biased towards catching nocturnal species however.
6.5.2 REPTILES
Twenty-eight species of reptile were recorded within Kazimzumbwi FR, half of which have not
previously been recorded within the reserve. This reflects the lack of attention given to Coastal
Forests in past reptile research and the resulting small number of forests with full species lists
(Broadley & Howell 2000). Of the fourteen species not peviously recorded within the reserve,
Sepsina tetradactyla is near-endemic to Coastal Forests and Natriciteres olivacea has not been
recorded on the coast for 15 years (K.Howell, pers. comm.). The record of Agama montana
represents a range extension for this species which has previously only been recorded in the
Usambara, Uluguru and Nguru Mounatins (National Biodiversity Database, UDSM 1997). Two
of the three chameleon genera occurring in Coastal Forests were represented in Kazimzumbwi
FR, with three species recorded. Two species of venomous snake were recorded in
Kazimzumbwi, although when compared to West and Central African forests, Coastal Forests (in
general) are poor in such species (Broadley & Howell 2000). If taxonomic verifications are
received confirming field identifications, many of the colubrid species recorded in Kazimzumbwi
FR will represent new records for the reserve and some for Coastal Forests. Unfortunately, as in
previous studies, fossorial reptiles were under-represented in this study.
Of the 28 reptile species recorded in Kazimzumbwi FR, only five (19%) are forest dependent,
although the ecological requirements of ten species (37%) are not known and therefore bias these
results. This figure is (without additional information) low when compared to that within Coastal
Forests in general, where 50% are forest dependent (Broadley & Howell 2000). Reptiles were
recorded at all trapsites and oportunistically throughout the reserve, in both forested and nonforested
habitats. Large areas of the Kazimzumbwi FR comprise habitats other than forests and
thus, as with the mammal rceords, the high number of ecological generalists is to be expected.
Two of the five forest dependent species also have restricted ranges.
Frontier-TanzaniaCoastal Forest Research Programme