PRIMATES Id code: amd005
LORIDAE Perodicticus potto (Müller, 1766 ) (Eng) Potto (Fre) Potto de Bosman Taxonomic notes Five subspecies have been proposed (Meester & Setzer, 1971; Kingdon, 1997). IUCN threat category Not listed. Available information Charles-Dominique (1971, 1977, 1979) investigated the main aspects of the ecology of the species at Makoku (Gabon); the author reports information on the species’ habitat, feeding habits, and behaviour. A study on the effects of forest exploitation on the species’ density was carried out in the Kibale Forest by Weisenseel et al. (1993). Data on the species’ occurrence are available for Gabon (Blom et al., 1992), eastern former Zaire (Rahm & Christiaensen, 1966), and Ghana (Booth, 1979); most of the authors mentioned also give some information on the species’ ecology, particularly its habitat. Its presence on Mount Nimba (Liberia) is described in Coe (1975); the author thoroughly analyses the area surveyed, supplying some information on the habitat in which the species is found. General information on the ecology of the species is found in Bourlière (1985), Eisenberg et al. (1979), Estes (1991), Kingdon (1971-77, 1997) and Stuart & Stuart (1997). Status, distribution, and threats are discussed in Oates (1996). Known extent of occurrence  The potto’s range extends from Senegal to western Kenya and southwards to incude former Zaire and northern Angola (Wilson & Reeder, 1993). Since detailed and updated distribution maps were not available in recent literature, Fig. 2.1.3.a was obtained by overlapping three maps of similar reliability (Charles-Dominique, 1977; Haltenorth & Diller, 1980; Kingdon, 1971-77) and testing the resulting range with the most recent source (Kingdon, 1997). Categorical-discrete (CD) distribution model The species occurs in forest and along forest margins in lowland or lower montane areas; it is also found in forest outliers in savanna areas (Kingdon, 1971-77, 1997; Bourlière, 1985; Booth, 1979; Haltenorth & Diller, 1980). Based on these environmental preferences, the following scores were assigned (Fig. 2.1.3.b) (Tab. 2.1.3.a):
Tab 2.1.3.a: Cumulative size (km2) of areas pertaining to each environmental suitability class within the Extent of Occurrence.
Tab 2.1.3.b: Area of Occupancy fragmentation indexes. Probabilistic-continuous (PC) distribution model The output of the probabilistic-continuous (PC) distribution model is shown in Fig. 2.1.3.c. Validation
Tab 2.1.3.c: Categorical-discrete (CD) distribution model validation parameters. Comments and conservation issues The known EO stretches from Senegal to Kenya and northern Angola including most of the forests of central Africa. About a third of the EO is classified as unsuitable by the CD model and the largest areas are found along the northern limit of the range in west Africa, in Kenya and along the eastern limit of the range in former Zaire. The Index of Accordance of 71.59% shows good agreement between expected and observed occurrence, and this is particularly true considering the high degree of fragmentation of the AO in Uganda which is one of the two sample areas in which the species was found during field work (the other being Cameroon). The PC model confirms the quality of these last areas. The suitable areas appear to be almost continuous throughout the range (LPI = 74.5%) and the continuity of the total AO is complete when the moderately suitable areas are also taken into account. However, the high AWMSI indicates that these areas and the total AO have a very irregular shape, forming an intricate mosaic with the unsuitable areas: the external edges of the forest areas in the east are mainly responsible for this pattern but so are many of the internal areas in the western section of the EO. The species is not listed as threatened. Only 4.5% of the AO is included in existing protected areas.
Tab 2.1.3.d: Percent of environmental suitability classes within EO (as obtained from the categorical-discrete distribution model) inside and outside the protected areas. References Blom A., Alers M.P.T., Feistner A.T.C., Barnes R.F.W., Barnes K.L. (1992). Primates in Gabon - current status and distribution. Oryx: 26(4), 223-234. Booth A.H. (1979). The distribution of primates in the Gold Coast. In: Sussman R.W. (Ed.). Primate Ecology. Problem-oriented field studies. Wiley, Chichester & New York: chap. 7: 139-154. Bourlière F. (1985). Primate communities: their structure and role in tropical ecosystems. Int J. Primatol.: 6, 1-26. Charles-Dominique P. (1971). Eco-éthologie des prosimiens du Gabon. Biol. Gabonica: 7, 121-228. Charles-Dominique P. (1977). Ecology and Behavior of Nocturnal Primates. Prosimians of Equatorial West Africa. Columbia University Press, New York. Charles-Dominique P. (1979). Ecology and feeding behavior of five sympatric lorisids in Gabon. In: Sussman R.W. (Ed.). Primate Ecology. Problem-oriented field studies. Wiley, Chichester & New York: chap. 1:1-22. Coe M.J. (1975). Mammalian ecological studies on Mount Nimba, Liberia. Mammalia: 39, 523-581. Eisenberg J.F., Muckenhirn N., Rudran R. (1979). The relations between ecology and social structure in primates. [reprinted from Science (1972), 176: 863-874]. In: Sussman R.W. (Ed.). Primate Ecology. Problem-oriented field studies. Wiley, Chichester & New York. chap. 23: 455-484. Estes R.D. (1991). The Behavior Guide to African Mammals. Including Hoofed Mammals, Carnivores, Primates. The University of California Press. Haltenorth T., Diller H. (1980). A field guide to the mammals of Africa, including Madagascar. Collins, London. Kingdon J. (1971-77). East African Mammals. VOL I: primates, hyraces, pangolins, protoungulates, sirenians. VOL IIA: Insectivores and bats. VOL IIB: hares and rodents. VOL IIIA: carnivores. VOL IIIB: large mammals. VOL IIIC: bovids. VOL IIID: bovids. Academic Press, London and New York. Kingdon J. (1997). The Kingdon field guide to African Mammals. Academic Press, London and New York: Natural World. Meester J., Setzer H.W. (Eds) (1971). The Mammals of Africa, an Identification Manual. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington D.C. Oates J.F. (1996). African Primates Status Survey and Conservation Action plan. IUCN/SSC Primate Specialist Group. Rahm U., Christiaensen A. (1966). Les mammiferès de l'Ile Idjwi (Lac Kivu, Congo). Les mammifères de la foret equatoriale de l'est du Congo. Ann. Mus. Roy. Afr. Cent.: n° 149. Stuart C., Stuart T. (1997). Field guide to the larger mammals of Africa. Struik Publishers. Weisenseel K., Chapman C.A., Chapman L.J. (1993). Nocturnal primates of Kibale Forest: effects of selective logging on prosimian densities. Primates: 34(4), 445-450. Wilson D.E., Reeder D.M. (Eds) (1993). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. Second edition. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington D.C.
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