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The biology of Elephantulus brachyrhynchus in natural miombo woodland in Tanzania
Author(s) -
LEIRS H.,
VERHAGEN R.,
VERHEYEN W.,
PERRIN M.R.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
mammal review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.574
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1365-2907
pISSN - 0305-1838
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2907.1995.tb00437.x
Subject(s) - tanzania , woodland , biology , reproductive biology , grassland , habitat , ecology , geography , pregnancy , genetics , lactation , environmental planning
Field expeditions between 1986 and 1989 yielded information about the distribution of macroscelids in Tanzania. The rare Elephantulus brachyrhynchus was captured in a natural habitat complex of miombo woodland, Combretum savanna and grassland in Dakawa, Tanzania. Basic ecological data for this species were obtained from 46 animals in a removal‐trapping study and 58 in a live‐trapping study. Sex ratio was near to parity. There was no evidence of a restricted reproductive period, although pregnancy incidence was higher around January‐February. Litters in utero comprised one or two embryos. E. brachyrhynchus had a preference for the transitional Combretum savanna. Stomach contents analysis showed a remarkably high proportion of green plant material in the diet.