Abstract
Using various sources, including the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), published literature, recent (2015–2017) collections, as well as bat detector and camera trap surveys with opportunistic sightings and live capture in the upper Okavango catchment in central Angola, we present an updated mammal checklist of 275 species from 15 different orders for Angola (including the Cabinda region). Recent surveys (captures and bat detectors) of small mammals from the upper Okavango catchment yielded 46 species (33 species of bats, ten species of rodents and three species of shrews). One bat (Pipistrellusrusticus, rusty pipistrelle); two rodents (Mussetzeri, Setzer’s mouse and Zelotomyswoosnami, Woosnam’s broad-faced mouse) and one shrew (Suncusvarilla, lesser dwarf shrew) were captured for the first time, in Angola. While our species lists of bats conformed to predicted totals, terrestrial small mammals were under sampled, with only 13 species recorded by our trapping survey compared to a total of 42 shrew and rodent species expected based on GBIF records for the central Angolan highlands. Seven terrestrial small mammal species (one shrew and six rodents) are endemic to the central and western Angolan highlands but none of these were captured in our survey. The bat detector surveys added three further bat species to the country list: Pipistrellushesperidus, Kerivoulaargentata, and Mopsmidas. Camera trap surveys and opportunistic sightings in the upper Okavango catchment in 2016 yielded a total of 35 species of medium-large mammals, from 17 families, although all of these had been reported previously in Angola. GBIF proved to be an excellent source of biodiversity data for Angolan mammals, most importantly for documenting dramatic historical range changes of larger mammals such as the sable (Hippotragusnigerniger), Kirk’s sable (H.nigerkirkii) and the giant sable (H.nigervariani).
Highlights
IntroductionCountry species checklists and distribution maps for key taxa such as mammals represent a critical step in national efforts towards reaching international (e.g., the Convention on Biological Diversity) and national biodiversity targets and planning for conservation management and sustainable development at regional and local levels
Country species checklists and distribution maps for key taxa such as mammals represent a critical step in national efforts towards reaching international and national biodiversity targets and planning for conservation management and sustainable development at regional and local levels
An updated species checklist of 275 species of Angolan mammals is presented in Suppl. material 1, comprising 245 species records obtained from GBIF and an additional 30 species added from the literature and recent surveys
Summary
Country species checklists and distribution maps for key taxa such as mammals represent a critical step in national efforts towards reaching international (e.g., the Convention on Biological Diversity) and national biodiversity targets and planning for conservation management and sustainable development at regional and local levels. Rapid advances in biodiversity informatics leading to huge volumes of reliable historical and recent occurrence data through public portals such as the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (https://www.gbif.org) make it possible to conduct taxonomic and conservation biodiversity assessments and compile reliable annotated species lists even for poorly known countries and regions (Soberón and Peterson 2004; Beaman and Cellinese 2012; Coetzer 2012; Wieczorek et al 2012). Advances in technology such as camera traps and microphones (including bat detectors) and associated analytical tools are facilitating rapid and efficient field inventories of groups such as larger mammals, bats, birds, crickets, and amphibians. Acoustic systems have been developed for automated species classification of huge volumes of call data. Camera traps have enabled efficient and comprehensive surveys of medium and large-sized mammals and other groups (Stein et al 2008; Tobler et al 2008; Rovero and Marshall 2009; Rovero et al 2014)
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