download

Insectivora Id code: amd261

Tenrecidae

Micropotamogale lamottei

Heim De Balsac, 1954

(Eng) Lesser or Nimba otter-shrew

(Fre) Micropotamogale du Mont-Nimba

Taxonomic notes

No relevant taxonomic notes.

IUCN threat category

Endangered (EN: criteria B1+2c).

Available information

Almost nothing is known on the ecology of this species. Some information is found in Kingdon (1997). Status, threats, and distribution are discussed in Nicoll & Rathbun (1990); the authors give also some information on its ecology, particularly on the habitat in which the species is found.

Known extent of occurrence

Endemic to west Africa, the Nimba otter-shrew is restricted to the Mount Nimba area in Ivory Coast, Liberia and Guinea (Wilson & Reeder, 1993; Nicoll & Rathbun, 1990; Kingdon, 1997). Its distribution map (Fig. 1.1.1.a) was obtained from Nicoll & Rathbun (1990).

Categorical-discrete (CD) distribution model

Confined to small rivers, streams and ditches in lowland, gallery and mountain forests and forest/savanna/cultivation mosaics (Nicoll & Rathbun, 1990; Kingdon, 1997).

Based on these environmental preferences, the following scores were assigned (Fig. 1.1.1.b) (Tab. 1.1.1.a):

Score

  

1

Forest and forest mosaics occurring inside a 1-km buffer around permanent water.

2

Savanna and savanna/cultivation mosaics occurring inside a 1-km buffer around permanent water.

3

All vegetation types occurring outside a 1-km buffer around permanent water.

 

suitable

moderately suitable

unsuitable

Total

km2

%

km2

%

km2

%

km2

%

9 303

16

1 548

3

46 586

81

57 437

100

Tab 1.1.1.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

85

111

169

10.18

1.42

2.25

moderately suitable

35

45

42

2.04

1.13

1.33

Total AO

75

147

223

10.63

1.56

2.6

Tab 1.1.1.b: Area of Occupancy fragmentation indexes.

Probabilistic-continuous (PC) distribution model

The output of the probabilistic-continuous (PC) distribution model is shown in Fig. 1.1.1.c.

Validation

No occurrence of the species within the four sample areas.

Comments and conservation issues

The small EO and the species' close association to water bodies reduce the amount of suitable areas. Only 19% of the EO is classified as suitable and the CD model shows the distribution along the river network. However, the species is very poorly known and its current EO should be verified. The AO appears to be very fragmented (see NP, MPS and PSSD) and the LPI (10.63%) confirms the extreme patchiness of the AO. The PC model, not considering the species' dependency on water bodies, extrapolates a better suitability throughout the range and in some adjacent areas. The species is classified as Endangered but is hardly protected by existing protected areas (3.3% of the total AO).

SUITABILITY CLASS

inside

outside

Total

suitable

0.57

15.62

16.20

moderately suitable

0.06

2.63

2.70

unsuitable

1.85

79.26

81.11

Total

2.49

97.51

100

Tab 1.1.1.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. (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.

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.