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Macroscelidea Id code: amd349

Macroscelididae

Elephantulus fuscus

(Peters, 1852)

(Eng) Dusky or Peters’ short-snouted elephant-shrew

(Fre) Rat à trompe à museau court de Peter

Taxonomic notes

No significant taxonomic notes.

IUCN threat category

Not listed.

Available information

Very little is known on the ecology of this species. A review of the information available of its biology in Southern Africa is found in Mills & Hes (1997) and Skinner & Smithers (1990). General information on the species’ ecology and distribution is found in Kingdon (1997). Status and distribution are discussed in Nicoll & Rathbun (1990); the authors also give a description of the habitat in which the species is found.

Known extent of occurrence

The dusky elephant-shrew ranges in Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia, marginally extending probably also to Zimbabwe (Nicoll & Rathbun, 1990). Its distribution map was obtained from Skinner & Smithers (1990) (Fig. 12.1.4.a).

Categorical-discrete (CD) distribution model

This species occurs primarily in grassland with scattered trees and bushes and in open savanna (Mills & Hes, 1997; Skinner & Smithers, 1990).

Based on these environmental preferences, the following scores were assigned (Fig. 12.1.4.b) (Tab. 12.1.4.a):

Score

  

1

Grasslands; grassland mosaics and woodland mosaics and transition.

2

Other savanna types; croplands and cropland mosaics.

3

Forests.

 

suitable

moderately suitable

unsuitable

Total

km2

%

km2

%

km2

%

km2

%

24 900

9

227 483

86

10 824

4

263 207

100

Tab 12.1.4.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

150

169

635

2.48

1.27

3.16

moderately suitable

23

9 877

45 907

89.18

1.49

7.79

Total AO

7

36 075

88 151

99.79

1.58

3.57

Tab 12.1.4.b: Area of Occupancy fragmentation indexes.

Probabilistic-continuous (PC) distribution model

The output of the probabilistic-continuous (PC) distribution model is shown in Fig. 12.1.4.c.

Validation

No occurrence of the species within the four sample areas.

Comments and conservation issues

The known EO of this species appears to be a continuous and moderately suitable area. In fact suitable areas are a small percentage (9%) and fragmentation is extremely limited as shown by all indexes (in particular, NP and LPI). The species is not listed by the IUCN threat category system and very little is known of its status; it requires further research. Less than 4% of its AO is protected by parks and reserves.

SUITABILITY CLASS

inside

outside

Total

suitable

0.32

9.14

9.46

moderately suitable

3.20

83.23

86.43

unsuitable

0.11

4

4.11

Total

3.63

96.37

100

Tab 12.1.4.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.

Mills G., Hes L. (1997). The complete book of Southern African mammals. Struik Publishers.

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.