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Carnivora
Id code: amd123Herpestidae
Rhynchogale melleri
(Gray, 1865)
(Eng) Meller’s mongoose
(Fre) Mangouste de Meller
Taxonomic notes
No significant taxonomic notes.
IUCN threat category
Not listed.
Available information
Very little is known on the species' ecology, and no specific studies have been conducted. Some information on its ecology in East Africa is reported by Kingdon (1971-77), while Skinner & Smithers (1990) briefly describe its biology in southern Africa. Both the authors mentioned above give some information on its habitat. Ecology and distribution are briefly analysed in Kingdon (1997) Stuart & Stuart (1997).
Known extent of occurrence
Meller’s mongoose appears to be widely but patchily distributed throughout south-eastern Africa (namely in Angola, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, former Zaire, Zambia and Zimbabwe; Wilson & Reeder, 1993). Its distribution range (Fig. 3.3.22.a) was obtained by joining the two maps in Skinner & Smithers (1990) and Kingdon (1997); Dr. H. Van Rompaey (20 May '97) revised a preliminary output.
Categorical-discrete (CD) distribution model
A savanna species particularly associated with open woodland or grassland (Kingdon, 1971-77; Skinner & Smithers, 1990).
Based on these environmental preferences, the following preference scores were assigned (Fig. 3.3.22.b) (3.3.22.a):
|
Score |
|
|
1 |
Woodlands, woodland mosaics and transition and grasslands. |
|
2 |
Shrublands, bushlands and thickets; savanna/forest and savanna/cropland mosaics. |
|
3 |
Forests and croplands. |
|
suitable |
moderately suitable |
unsuitable |
Total |
||||
|
km2 |
% |
km2 |
% |
km2 |
% |
km2 |
% |
|
1 589 953 |
69 |
444 433 |
19 |
257 984 |
11 |
2 292 370 |
100 |
Tab 3.3.22.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 |
396 |
4 014 |
67 607 |
65.92 |
1.4 |
32.3 |
|
moderately suitable |
2 075 |
215 |
2 017 |
3.09 |
1.29 |
6.64 |
|
Total AO |
120 |
16 959 |
175 633 |
94.85 |
1.31 |
20 |
Tab 3.3.22.b: Area of Occupancy fragmentation indexes.
Probabilistic-continuous (PC) distribution model
The output of the probabilistic-continuous (PC) distribution model is shown in Fig. 3.3.22.c.
Validation
Less then 1% of the EO within the four sample areas.
Comments and conservation issues
The known EO of this species appears to consist in mainly suitable areas (69%), which form at least one continuous and very articulate block (see LPI, MSI and AWMSI). Moderately suitable areas are very fragmented, but they largely contribute to interconnecting the total AO, as shown by the decrease in NP and by the increase in LPI. However, the known EO is poorly matched by both models, which reveal extensive suitable areas outside or peripheral to its boundaries; further investigation is clearly needed to better define the status, ecology and distribution of this scarcely known mongoose. About 18% of the AO is included in existing protected areas.
|
SUITABILITY CLASS |
inside |
outside |
Total |
|
suitable |
10.98 |
58.38 |
69.36 |
|
moderately suitable |
2.31 |
17.07 |
19.39 |
|
unsuitable |
1.28 |
9.97 |
11.25 |
|
Total |
14.57 |
85.43 |
100 |
Tab 3.3.22.c: Percent of environmental suitability classes within EO (as obtained from the categorical-discrete distribution model) inside and outside the protected areas.
References
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.
Skinner J.D., Smithers R.H.N. (1990). The mammals of the Southern African subregion. University of Pretoria, Pretoria.
Stuart C., Stuart T. (1997). Field guide to the larger mammals of Africa. Struik Publishers.
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.