Tapping into technology and the biodiversity informatics revolution: updated terrestrial mammal list of Angola, with new records from the Okavango Basin

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).

Rapid peripatric speciation linked with drainage evolution in a rare African rodent,Mastomys shortridgei(Rodentia: Muridae)

“…A recent study surveying small mammals in the Okavango catchment in Angola in the source lakes region of the Cuito and Cuanavale Rivers resulted in 28 rodent captures but only one capture of M. natalensis and no specimens of M. shortridgei (Taylor et al., 2018). The identification of this male specimen (Durban Natural Science Museum catalogue number 15,054) as M. natalensis was based on its grayish (not blackish) dorsal fur color and tail length (110 mm) subequal to (not less than) head and body length (109 mm).…”

“…The unique biodiversity of the region has been shaped by a complex history of climate change and drainage evolution (Cordova et al., 2017; Cotterill, 2003, 2004; Nash et al., 2006). This rich biodiversity, which includes high species richness of, inter alia , plants (Goyder et al., 2018) and small mammals (Huntley et al., 2019; Taylor et al., 2018; Weier et al., 2020) may be threatened by anthropogenic effects as well as uncertain future climate change impacts on water supply (Hughes et al., 2011; Stoldt et al., 2020).…”

A rapid assessment of hunting and bushmeat trade along the roadside between five Angolan major towns

“…These numbers are expected to increase, as species new to science are still being discovered or rediscovered (Ceríaco et al 2018;Marques et al 2019;Vaz Pinto et al 2019). Freshwater fishes account for 358 species, of which 22% are endemic (Skelton 2019) and 275 species of mammals are historically recorded, with new additions from recent surveys of the upper Okavango (Cubango) catchment (Taylor et al 2018).…”

Updated ranges of the Vulnerable cheetah and Endangered African wild dog in Angola

“…It is likely that other large extents of good quality habitat in Angola also harbour resident populations, and further monitoring to assess presence and residency status are required. Cheetahs have been observed regularly in the lower Angolan range of the Cubango river, and also in south-eastern, south-western and central-eastern Angola in the provinces of Namibe, Cuando Cubango and Moxico (Marker et al, 2010; Funston et al, 2017; Taylor et al, 2018; Fig. 1).…”

“…

Fig. 1Distribution status (IUCN/SSC, 2015) of (a) the cheetah Acinonyx jubatus in Angola, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana (Durant et al, 2015), and of recent (2008–2018) records in Angola (1, Purchase et al, 2007; 2,3, Taylor et al, 2018; 4,7, Funston et al, 2017; 5, this study; 6, Marker et al, 2010, Bruce Bennett, pers. obs., 2017), and (b) the African wild dog Lycaon pictus in Angola, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana (Woodroffe & Sillero-Zubiri, 2012), and recent (2008–2018) records in Angola (1, BP Geological survey team, pers.

…”