American Journal of Zoology

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Preliminary Inventory of Squirrels (Sciuridae, Rodentia) of Kisangani Region in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Received: 03 May 2018    Accepted: 01 June 2018    Published: 03 July 2018
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Abstract

Amongst small mammals, rodents are the largest order in terms of both species and population numbers. They have a high rate of reproduction, are cosmopolitan and have the ability to adapt to a wide variety of habitats. Several studies were carried out on myomorphic rodents in the Kisangani ecoregion, while those on sciuromorphic rodents are very scarce. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the composition of the sciuromorph rodent population in the Kisangani ecoregion. This investigation was conducted in five stations of Kisangani and the sampling was performed between April 2014 and December 2016. The external morphometry method was used for species identification according to Kingdon and Schouteden. Using traditional traps, the trapping was done randomly and 75 specimens of squirrels were captured knowing that 75 traps were installed in each station. In total, the capture success was of 27750 night traps with a weak yield of 0.27%. The findings revealed that the highest rate of species was recorded in the Masako station with a capture success of 1.89% while the lowest in the Mombongo station with a capture success of 0.38%. The 75 specimens of squirrels captured belong to 4 genera and 7 species Masako and Yasikia stations presented a high specific richness (SR = 4) than other stations. Funisciurus anerythrus, Heliosciurus rufobrachium, Paraxerus boehmi are constant (C> 50%) and Funisciurus pyrropus, Protoxerus stangeri, Funisciurus bayonii, Funisciurus congicus are accessory taxa (25% F. bayonii and F. congicus.

DOI 10.11648/j.ajz.20180101.13
Published in American Journal of Zoology (Volume 1, Issue 1, September 2018)
Page(s) 15-19
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Africa’s Squirrels, Inventory, Traditional Trapping, Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo

References
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[2] Singla D. L., Singla N., Parshad R. V., Juyal D. P. and Sood K. N. Rodents as reservoirs of parasites in India. Integrative Zoology, 2008; 3: 21-26
[3] Boleke, I. Contribution à l’étude de peuplement des sciuridés de la réserve forestière de Yoko (Ubundu, RDC), Mémoire (inédit), Faculté des Sciences, Université de Kisangani, 2015.
[4] Aladro, M. Contribution à l’étude des Sciuridés de la Reserve forestière de la Yoko et ses environs (Ubundu, RD Congo), Monographie (inédit), Faculté des Sciences, Université de Kisangani, 2007.
[5] Paluku, K. Contribution à l’étude de peuplement des Sciuridae de la Réserve Forestière de Masako et localité de Uma (Province Orientale, R. D. Congo), Travail de fin de cycle (inédit), Faculté des Sciences, Université de Kisangani, 2014.
[6] Hugot, J. P. Trois nouveaux Syphacia (Syphatineria) (Nematoda, Oxvurinae), parasites d'Ecureuils africains. Bull. Mus. Nain. Hist Nat., Paris, 4e série, 2 section A, 1980, 1: 87-97.
[7] Hutin, Y. J., Williams, R. J., Malfait, P., Pebody, R., Loparev, V. N., Ropp, S. L., Rodriguez, M., Knight, J. C., Tshioko, F. K., Khan, A. S., Szczeniowski, M. V., Esposito, J. J. Outbreak of human monkeypox, Democratic Republic of Congo, 1996 to 1997. Journal of Emerging Infectious Diseases, 2001, 7(3): 434–438.
[8] Baelo, B., Asimonyio, A., Gambalemoke, S., Amundala, D., Kiakenya, R., Erik, V., Laudisoit, A., Ngbolua, K. N. Reproduction and populations structure of the Sciuridae (Rodentia, mammalia) of the forest reserve of Yoko (Ubundu city, DR Congo). Int J Innovation Sci Res, 2016, 23(2): 428-442.
[9] Ndjele, M. B. Les éléments phytogéographiques endémiques dans la flore vasculaire du Zaïre. Thèse de Doctorat (inédite), Faculté des Sciences, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgique, 1988.
[10] Shutsha R. E., Asimonyio JA.., Omatoko J. M., Kambale J. L. K., Angoyo R. A., Lomba C. B., Ndjele N. B., Ngbolua K. Floristic, phytosociological and phytogeographical studies of the herbaceous vegetation and the underwood of the Yoko reserve forest (Tshopo Province, DR Congo). Int. J. Innov. Sci. Res. 2017, 29: 119-136.
[11] Robyns, W. Les territoires phytogéographiques du Congo belge et du Ruanda-Urundi. In Atlas général du Congo belge. Inst. Roy. Col. Belg. Bruxelles, 1980. French.
[12] Kingdon, J. The Kingdon Field Guide to African Mammals. London: Academic Press, 1997.
[13] Kingdon, J. Guide de Mammifères d’Afrique de la charv et niestle, Paris, France, 2004.
[14] Schouteden, K. Faune du Congo Belge et du Rwanda Urundi. In: Mammifères du Congo Belge, Ann. Mus. Tervuren, 1948, 8(1): 253-267. French.
[15] Nowak, R. M. Walker’s mammals of the world, Vol 1, 6th ed. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, 1999, pp. 1246-1305.
[16] Grubb, P. Funisciurus bayonii. In: IUCN 2008. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
[17] IUCN, 2016. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2016-3. Available at: www.iucnredlist.org. (Accessed: 07 December 2016).
[18] Cassola F. Protoxerus stangeri. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T18386A22252711.http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.20163.RLTS.T18386A22252711.en. Downloaded on 21 April 2017. 2016a.
[19] Cassola F. Paraxerus boehmi. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T16204A22242582.http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.20163.RLTS.T16204A22242582. en. Downloaded on 20 April 2017. 2016b
[20] Cassola F. Heliosciurus rufobrachium. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T9833A22260685.http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.20163.RLTS.T9833A22260685.en. Downloaded on 21 April 2017. 2016c
[21] Cassola F. Funisciurus anerythrus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T8756A22269868.http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.20163.RLTS.T8756A22269868.en. Downloaded on 20 April 2017. 2016d
[22] Diamouangana J. La réserve de la biosphère de Dimonika, Document de travail No 4, UNESCO (Programme de Coopération Sud-Sud), Paris (France), 1995, 32pp. French.
[23] Duplantier, J. M. Les rongeurs myomorphes forestiers du Nord-Est du Gabon: peuplement, utilisation de l'espace et des ressources alimentaires, rôle dans la dispersion et la germination des graines. Thèse 3 cycle U.S. T. L. Montpellier, 1982.
[24] Colyn, M. Les Mammifères de forêt ombrophile entre les rivières Tshopo et Maiko (Région du Haut-Zaire). Bull. Inst. R. Sci. Nat. Belg. (Biologie), 1986, 56: 21-26.
Author Information
  • Biodiversity Surveillance Centre, University of Kisangani, Kisangani City, Democratic Republic of the Congo

  • Biodiversity Surveillance Centre, University of Kisangani, Kisangani City, Democratic Republic of the Congo

  • Faculty of Science, University of Kisangani, Kisangani City, Democratic Republic of the Congo

  • Biodiversity Surveillance Centre, University of Kisangani, Kisangani City, Democratic Republic of the Congo; Faculty of Science, University of Kisangani, Kisangani City, Democratic Republic of the Congo

  • Biodiversity Surveillance Centre, University of Kisangani, Kisangani City, Democratic Republic of the Congo; Faculty of Science, University of Kisangani, Kisangani City, Democratic Republic of the Congo

  • Royal Institute of Natural Science of Belgium, Brussels, Belgium

  • Royal Institute of Natural Science of Belgium, Brussels, Belgium; Group of Evolutive Biology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; Institute of Integrative Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Liverpool, United Kingdom

  • Department of Biology, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa City, Democratic Republic of the Congo

  • Department of Biology, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa City, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Pascal Baelo, Justin Asimonyio, Nicaise Amundala, Dudu Akaibe, Sylvestre Gambalemoke, et al. (2018). Preliminary Inventory of Squirrels (Sciuridae, Rodentia) of Kisangani Region in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. American Journal of Zoology, 1(1), 15-19. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajz.20180101.13

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    ACS Style

    Pascal Baelo; Justin Asimonyio; Nicaise Amundala; Dudu Akaibe; Sylvestre Gambalemoke, et al. Preliminary Inventory of Squirrels (Sciuridae, Rodentia) of Kisangani Region in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Am. J. Zool. 2018, 1(1), 15-19. doi: 10.11648/j.ajz.20180101.13

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    AMA Style

    Pascal Baelo, Justin Asimonyio, Nicaise Amundala, Dudu Akaibe, Sylvestre Gambalemoke, et al. Preliminary Inventory of Squirrels (Sciuridae, Rodentia) of Kisangani Region in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Am J Zool. 2018;1(1):15-19. doi: 10.11648/j.ajz.20180101.13

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajz.20180101.13,
      author = {Pascal Baelo and Justin Asimonyio and Nicaise Amundala and Dudu Akaibe and Sylvestre Gambalemoke and Erik Verheyen and Anne Laudisoit and Gédéon Bongo and Koto-te-Nyiwa Ngbolua},
      title = {Preliminary Inventory of Squirrels (Sciuridae, Rodentia) of Kisangani Region in the Democratic Republic of the Congo},
      journal = {American Journal of Zoology},
      volume = {1},
      number = {1},
      pages = {15-19},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajz.20180101.13},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajz.20180101.13},
      eprint = {https://download.sciencepg.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajz.20180101.13},
      abstract = {Amongst small mammals, rodents are the largest order in terms of both species and population numbers. They have a high rate of reproduction, are cosmopolitan and have the ability to adapt to a wide variety of habitats. Several studies were carried out on myomorphic rodents in the Kisangani ecoregion, while those on sciuromorphic rodents are very scarce. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the composition of the sciuromorph rodent population in the Kisangani ecoregion. This investigation was conducted in five stations of Kisangani and the sampling was performed between April 2014 and December 2016. The external morphometry method was used for species identification according to Kingdon and Schouteden. Using traditional traps, the trapping was done randomly and 75 specimens of squirrels were captured knowing that 75 traps were installed in each station. In total, the capture success was of 27750 night traps with a weak yield of 0.27%. The findings revealed that the highest rate of species was recorded in the Masako station with a capture success of 1.89% while the lowest in the Mombongo station with a capture success of 0.38%. The 75 specimens of squirrels captured belong to 4 genera and 7 species Masako and Yasikia stations presented a high specific richness (SR = 4) than other stations. Funisciurus anerythrus, Heliosciurus rufobrachium, Paraxerus boehmi are constant (C> 50%) and Funisciurus pyrropus, Protoxerus stangeri, Funisciurus bayonii, Funisciurus congicus are accessory taxa (25% F. bayonii and F. congicus.},
     year = {2018}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Preliminary Inventory of Squirrels (Sciuridae, Rodentia) of Kisangani Region in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
    AU  - Pascal Baelo
    AU  - Justin Asimonyio
    AU  - Nicaise Amundala
    AU  - Dudu Akaibe
    AU  - Sylvestre Gambalemoke
    AU  - Erik Verheyen
    AU  - Anne Laudisoit
    AU  - Gédéon Bongo
    AU  - Koto-te-Nyiwa Ngbolua
    Y1  - 2018/07/03
    PY  - 2018
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajz.20180101.13
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ajz.20180101.13
    T2  - American Journal of Zoology
    JF  - American Journal of Zoology
    JO  - American Journal of Zoology
    SP  - 15
    EP  - 19
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2994-7413
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajz.20180101.13
    AB  - Amongst small mammals, rodents are the largest order in terms of both species and population numbers. They have a high rate of reproduction, are cosmopolitan and have the ability to adapt to a wide variety of habitats. Several studies were carried out on myomorphic rodents in the Kisangani ecoregion, while those on sciuromorphic rodents are very scarce. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the composition of the sciuromorph rodent population in the Kisangani ecoregion. This investigation was conducted in five stations of Kisangani and the sampling was performed between April 2014 and December 2016. The external morphometry method was used for species identification according to Kingdon and Schouteden. Using traditional traps, the trapping was done randomly and 75 specimens of squirrels were captured knowing that 75 traps were installed in each station. In total, the capture success was of 27750 night traps with a weak yield of 0.27%. The findings revealed that the highest rate of species was recorded in the Masako station with a capture success of 1.89% while the lowest in the Mombongo station with a capture success of 0.38%. The 75 specimens of squirrels captured belong to 4 genera and 7 species Masako and Yasikia stations presented a high specific richness (SR = 4) than other stations. Funisciurus anerythrus, Heliosciurus rufobrachium, Paraxerus boehmi are constant (C> 50%) and Funisciurus pyrropus, Protoxerus stangeri, Funisciurus bayonii, Funisciurus congicus are accessory taxa (25% F. bayonii and F. congicus.
    VL  - 1
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