Full screen Carnivora Id code: amd013
Herpestidae
Bdeogale nigripes
Pucheran, 1855
(Eng) Black-legged mongoose
(Fre) Mangouste à pattes noires
Taxonomic notes
Formerly placed in Galeriscus, this species was also erroneously considered conspecific with B. jacksoni by Kingdon (1977).
IUCN threat category
Not listed.
Available information
Almost nothing is known on this species' ecology. Some information on the habitat in which its seems to occur is found in Kingdon (1971-77) and Kingdon (1997). Notes on its occurrence in Angola are found in Feiler (1990).
Known extent of occurrence
This species inhabits the central African rain forests from the Cross river in Nigeria to former Zaire (Wilson & Reeder, 1993) with an approximate eastern edge along the western Rift valley (Schreiber et al., 1989). The first rough distribution was acquired from the overlapping of maps in Haltenorth & Diller (1980) and Kingdon (1971-77), but it was subsequently largely updated using Kingdon (1997), Schreiber et al. (1989), and indications by Dr. H. Van Rompaey (20 May '97). In Fig. 3.3.4.a, areas south of the Zaire river are marked as "possible": even if no specimens are currently available for these zones, its presence is suspected as far south as the Kasai river and even in the riverine forests south of it. Its presence in Angola has been disregarded (Kingdon, 1997; Crawford-Cabral, 1989).
Categorical-discrete (CD) distribution model
Only cited from lowland forests (Kingdon, 1971-77, 1997).
Based on these environmental preferences, the following scores were assigned (Fig. 3.3.4.b) (Tab. 3.3.4.a):
|
Score |
|
|
1 |
Forests. |
|
2 |
Forest mosaics. |
|
3 |
Savannas and croplands. |
|
suitable |
moderately suitable |
unsuitable |
Total |
|||||
|
OCCURRENCE |
km2 |
% |
km2 |
% |
km2 |
% |
km2 |
% |
|
certain |
1 223 685 |
40 |
622 119 |
20 |
318 705 |
10 |
2 164 509 |
71 |
|
possible |
620 568 |
20 |
154 952 |
5 |
101 727 |
3 |
877 247 |
29 |
|
Total |
1 844 253 |
61 |
777 071 |
26 |
420 432 |
14 |
3 041 756 |
100 |
Tab 3.3.4.a: Cumulative size (km2) of areas pertaining to each environmental suitability class within the Extent of Occurrence.
|
Number Patches (NP) |
Mean Patch Size (MPS) km2 |
Patch Size SD (PSSD) km2 |
Largest Patch Index (LPI) % |
Mean Shape Index (MSI) |
Area-Weighted Mean Shape Index (AWMSI) |
|
|
suitable |
1 053 |
1 752 |
53 322 |
66 |
1.23 |
29.83 |
|
moderately suitable |
2 138 |
364 |
9 786 |
16.96 |
1.26 |
14.94 |
|
Total AO |
299 |
8 772 |
150 099 |
99.12 |
1.3 |
25.09 |
Tab 3.3.4.b: Area of Occupancy fragmentation indexes.
Probabilistic-continuous (PC) distribution model
The output of the probabilistic-continuous (PC) distribution model is shown in Fig. 3.3.4.c.
Validation
|
% of EO in sample areas |
Number of valid plots |
Index of Accordance (%) |
|
12.39 |
80 |
51.25 |
Tab 3.3.4.c: Categorical-discrete (CD) distribution model validation parameters.
Comments and conservation issues
The known EO of this species consists in a main region where its occurrence is confirmed, and a vast area where it needs to be verified. The CD model is well supported by the Index of Accordance (51.25%) and indicates, along with the PC model, that most of the "possible" area is suitable. Within the total EO, the CD model shows the presence of an intricate mosaic of suitable and moderately suitable areas, which forms a highly interconnected and articulate texture (see NP and LPI). As revealed by both models, unsuitable areas are mainly located at the eastern boundary; however, the shape of the known EO needs to be verified also at its north-western limit. About 7% of the species' AO is included in currently protected areas, but the species is not endangered.
|
OCCURRENCE |
SUITABILITY CLASS |
inside |
outside |
Total |
|
certain |
suitable |
2.03 |
38.20 |
40.23 |
|
moderately suitable |
1.72 |
18.73 |
20.45 |
|
|
unsuitable |
0.94 |
9.54 |
10.48 |
|
|
possible |
suitable |
0.83 |
19.57 |
20.40 |
|
moderately suitable |
0.19 |
4.90 |
5.09 |
|
|
unsuitable |
0.11 |
3.24 |
3.34 |
|
|
Total |
5.82 |
94.18 |
100 |
Tab 3.3.4.d: Percent of environmental suitability classes within EO (as obtained from the categorical-discrete distribution model) inside and outside the protected areas.
References
Crawford-Cabral J. (1989). Distributional data and notes on Angolan carnivores (Mammalia: Carnivora). I - Small and median-sized species. Garcia de Orta, Série de Zoologica: Lisboa 14(2), 3-27.
Feiler A. (1990). Distribution of mammals in Angola and notes on biogeography. Vertebrates in the tropics (Peters, G & R Hutter, eds). Museum Alexander Koenig, Bonn.: 221-236.
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.
Schreiber A., Wirth R., Riffel M., Van Rompaey H. (Eds) (1989). Weasels, Civets, Mongoose and their Relatives. An Action Plan for the Conservation of Mustelids and Viverrids. IUCN/SSC Mustelid and Viverrid Specialist Group.
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.