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Macroscelidea
Id code: amd233Macroscelididae
Elephantulus fuscipes
(Thomas, 1894)
(Eng) Short-nosed or dusky-footed elephant-shrew
(Fre) Rat à trompe à nez court
Taxonomic notes
No significant taxonomic notes.
IUCN threat category
Not listed.
Available information
Literature available on the species’ ecology is very limited. General information is found in Kingdon (1971-77) and Kingdon (1997). Status and distribution are discussed in Nicoll & Rathbun (1990); the authors also include a description of the habitat in which the species occurs.
Known extent of occurrence
The dusky-footed elephant-shrew occurs over a small area of eastern-central Africa (Nicoll & Rathbun, 1990), covering part of Sudan, Uganda, former Zaire and marginally also C.A.R. Its distribution map was obtained from Skinner & Smithers (1990) and tested on the basis of information found in Nicoll & Rathbun (1990). The map was also verified on the basis of the river network (Fig. 12.1.3.a).
Categorical-discrete (CD) distribution model
This species favours bushy and scrubby habitats and light woodlands (Nicoll & Rathbun, 1990; Kingdon, 1971-77, 1997).
Based on these environmental preferences, the following scores were assigned (Fig. 12.1.3.b) (12.1.3.a):
|
Score |
|
|
1 |
Shrublands, bushlands and woodland mosaics and transition. |
|
2 |
Other savanna types and croplands. |
|
3 |
Forests. |
|
suitable |
moderately suitable |
unsuitable |
Total |
||||
|
km2 |
% |
km2 |
% |
km2 |
% |
km2 |
% |
|
8 895 |
4 |
164 985 |
83 |
25 226 |
13 |
199 106 |
100 |
Tab 12.1.3.a: Cumulative size (km
2) 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 |
21 |
410 |
835 |
1.69 |
1.44 |
2.33 |
|
moderately suitable |
16 |
10 355 |
39 698 |
94.16 |
1.44 |
6.02 |
|
Total AO |
8 |
21 784 |
57 494 |
99.78 |
1.59 |
5.45 |
Tab 12.1.3.b: Area of Occupancy fragmentation indexes.
Probabilistic-continuous (PC) distribution model
The output of the probabilistic-continuous (PC) distribution model is shown in Fig. 12.1.3.c.
Validation
|
% of EO in sample ares |
Number of valid plots |
Index of Accordance (%) |
|
32.83 |
21 |
57.14 |
Tab 12.1.3.c: Categorical-discrete (CD) distribution model validation parameters.
Comments and conservation issues
This species is distributed in a narrow EO that appears moderately suitable (83%). However, the species is very poorly known and its distribution (the EO is marked as "possible") and habitat requirements may have been incorrectly represented in our models. These considerations, along with those concerning the entire genus Elephantulus, suggest even greater caution for this species in considering the Index of Accordance, which is nevertheless 57.14%. The EO appears to be one single continuous patch and the small unsuitable areas are confined to the forests of northern former Zaire. More than 12.5% of the total AO is included in existing protected areas; the species is not listed but its conservation status should be urgently reassessed.
|
SUITABILITY CLASS |
inside |
outside |
Total |
|
suitable |
0.01 |
4.46 |
4.47 |
|
moderately suitable |
11.31 |
71.56 |
82.86 |
|
unsuitable |
0.09 |
12.57 |
12.67 |
|
Total |
11.41 |
88.59 |
100 |
Tab 12.1.3.d: Percent of environmental suitability classes within EO (as obtained from the categorical-discrete distribution model) inside and outside the protected areas.
References
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.
Nicoll M.E., Rathbun G.B. (Eds) (1990). African Insectivora and Elephant-Shrews. An Action Plan for their Conservation. IUCN/SSC Insectivore, Tree-Shrew and Elephant Shrew Specialist Group.
Skinner J.D., Smithers R.H.N. (1990). The mammals of the Southern African subregion. University of Pretoria, Pretoria.