The proposed Parc Regional de Belomotse - Frontier-publications ...

fruiting trees at night. The specimens appeared to be Eidolon dupreanum. As no
specimens were captured, this identification is based on the fact that E. dupreanum
typically roosts in caves, whereas Pteropus rufus typically roosts in trees. Roosting
colonies seemed to vary in size depending on the availability and capacity of suitable
caves. Colonies with as few as ten individuals were observed. The roosting animals
were often semi-active and noisy throughout the day, emerging at dusk.
All species of the larger tenrecs; Tenrec ecaudatus, Setifer setosus and Echinops
telfairi, are known from southwest Madagascar. All of these species were collected
from the surveyed areas. T. ecaudatus was heard foraging in the undergrowth at night
and young individuals were caught in pitfall traps. This species was found both in
gallery forest near to water and in the arid spiny forest on the hills.
Large-eared tenrecs and shrew tenrecs, belonging to the genera Geogale and
Microgale consecutively, are known from southwest Madagascar. Geogale aurita is
restricted to the southwest region where it is typically found in dry deciduous and
spiny forests. The genus Microgale contains approximately twenty species that are
found in many different habitats throughout the island. During the surveys, G. aurita
was captured in low numbers in the dry spiny forest on the hillsides and plateau. One
species of Microgale was found during the survey. See section 5.4.4 for a discussion
of this species. M. pusilla has previously been collected from the Toliara region
(Garbutt 1999), though it was not identified in the surveyed areas. This species is
typically found in comparatively high numbers in suitable habitats, so it is suggested
that this species does not occur in the surveyed area.
Four species from the family Cheirogaleidae (Mouse and Dwarf Lemurs) were
identified within the surveyed areas. The genus of mouse lemurs, Microcebus, was
previously assumed to consist of two species, with one of them occurring in the west,
but recent studies suggest that at least seven species are found in western Madagascar
(Rasoloarison et al. 2000). Two species, Microcebus murinus and M. griseorufus,
were identified during the survey based on observations, DNA samples and the
preliminary analysis of owl pellets (Goodman, pers. comm). M. murinus is distributed
along the west coast of Madagascar, where it appears to be common and
comparatively abundant. During the survey, individuals were typically observed in the
dry transitional scrub and spiny forest. M. griseorufus was observed in similar
habitats.
The fat-tailed dwarf lemur, Cheirogaleus medius, is distributed along the west coast
of Madagascar in dry deciduous forest and gallery forest. During the survey, it was
observed frequently between the months of October and March. This species was
fairly inactive during the dry season from May to September, only occasionally
emerging. C. medius appears to be comparatively abundant, although it was only
observed in gallery forest habitats. Coquerel’s dwarf lemur, Mirza coquereli, is
known from the north-west of Madagascar in the Sambirano region, and also from
several locations in the west. Previous unconfirmed sightings suggested the existence
of populations south of this range, along the north bank of the Onilahy River. The
species was positively identified in this area during the surveys. The presence of M.
coquereli in this area probably defines the most southern limit to the range of this
species, as no sightings have been made south of the Onilahy River. In comparison to
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