Abstract
In this paper new records are reported for 23 species of small terrestrial mammals (STM) of Albania collected during the field work campaigns organised in the framework of the project “Strengthening capacity in National Nature Protection – preparation for Natura 2000 network” (NaturAL) in Albania during the summer and autumn of 2016 and 2017 Data on small mammals were primarily collected through Sherman live-trapping campaigns in six high priority protected areas of Albania: Korab-Koritnik, Bredhi i Hotovës, Tomorri, Llogara-Karaburun, Divjakë-Karavasta, Liqeni i Shkodrës (Skadar lake), Lëpushë-Vermosh. Other data were obtained by analysis of owl pellets or by direct observation of individuals (dead or alive) in the field. For 21 species Erinaceus roumanicus, Neomys anomalus, Crocidura suaveolens, Crocidura leucodon, Suncus etruscus, Talpa stankovici/caeca, Myocastor coypus, Sciurus vulgaris, Glis glis, Dryomys nitedula, Muscardinus avellanarius, Microtus levis/arvalis, Microtus subterraneus, Microtus thomasi, Microtus felteni, Myodes glareolus, Apodemus sylvaticus, Apodemus flavicollis, Apodemus epimelas, Mus musculus, and Mus macedonicus additional records are provide and their distributions reviewed, while the presence of two new species of shrews (Sorex araneus and Sorex minutus) for Albania is reported for the first time. A comprehensive review of the published and unpublished distribution records of STM species of the country is made, together with an updated checklist and distribution maps of the species.
Highlights
The first records of small terrestrial mammals (STM) from Albania date back to Miller (1912), subsequent studies were published only after 1945 and were largely based on very limited records (Puzanov et al 1955, Rosický and Gjini 1960, Koçi 1961, Bajrami and Serezi 1981, Vangjeli 1987, Anděra 1991, Kryštufek 1994, Prigioni 1996, Macholán and Vohralík 1997, Macholán et al 2003)
The aim of this paper is to provide the most recent records for 23 small mammal species found in protected areas visited within the framework of the “Strengthening capacity in National Nature Protection – preparation for Natura 2000 network” (NaturAL) project, with focus on the new records for the two new shrew species for Albania, and to summarise the current distribution of species belonging to the orders Eulipotyphla and Rodentia in the country
Data on small mammals were primarily collected through Sherman live-trapping campaigns organised in summer and autumn 2016 and 2017 in various high priority protected areas of Albania selected by the NaturAL project: Korab-Koritnik, Bredhi i Hotovës, Mali i Tomorrit, Divjakë-Karavasta, Shkodra lake (Skadar lake), Llogara-Small terrestrial mammals of Albania: distribution and diversity
Summary
The first records of small terrestrial mammals (STM) from Albania date back to Miller (1912), subsequent studies were published only after 1945 and were largely based on very limited records (Puzanov et al 1955, Rosický and Gjini 1960, Koçi 1961, Bajrami and Serezi 1981, Vangjeli 1987, Anděra 1991, Kryštufek 1994, Prigioni 1996, Macholán and Vohralík 1997, Macholán et al 2003). In 2008, Bego et al reported a synopsis of the small mammals of Albania (Eulipotyphla, Rodentia), outlining both new records and previously published data. In 2014, Bego et al reported the first record of Spalax (Nannospalax) leucodon in Albania. The number of known small mammal species for Albania has increased recently, with three new species of Cricetids (Dinaromys bogdanovi, Chionomys nivalis and Microtus subterraneus) recorded by Stolarik et al (2017) and Stolarik and Jablonski (2017)
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