Distribution of the Etendeka round-eared sengi (Macroscelides micus), a Namibian endemic mammal
The distribution of the recently described Etendeka round-eared sengi (Macroscelides micus), based on new capture records, now includes most of the western portion of the Etendeka Plateau and eastern area of the Goboboseb Mountains, which are part of the Etendeka geological formation in north-western Namibia. The recently described Etendeka round-eared sengi or elephant-shrew (Macroscelides micus; Fig. 1) from north-western Namibia has a distribution that is likely restricted to Etendeka igneous intrusions (Dumbacher et al. 2014). However, the documented locations for this species (Fig. 2) do not encompass the entire area covered by this unique volcanic flood event that occurred ca. 133 mya (Jerram et al. 1999). The main Etendeka formations include the Etendeka Plateau and nearby Awahab Outliers, and about 40 km south the Goboboseb Mountains (but not Messum Crater, Fig. 2). The substrates associated with the intrusions are rusty-coloured, but the area between and below them is mostly of sedimentary origin, and M. micus does not seem to occur on these substrates. The western portions of the Etendeka landscapes fall within Dorobos National Park and Skeleton Coast Park, which would provide maximum protection for E. micus and its habitats, if they occur within either national park. During September and October 2013, we live-trapped the Etendeka region with three objectives: To determine 1. if M. micus occurs in the Goboboseb Mountains, 2. whether it occurs in Skeleton Coast Park, and 3. the extent of its distribution on the Etendeka Plateau.
Journal of the Namibia Scientific Society
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Distribution of the Etendeka round_eared sengi_2015.pdf | 521.71 KB |