Biodiv Sci ›› 2022, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (4): 21301.  DOI: 10.17520/biods.2021301

• Bioinventories • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Diversity and inventory of non-volant small mammals in southern Anhui

Xiaoxin Pei1, Weiying Qu1,2, Xueyang Ren1, Jiangxiao Hu1, Min Zhang2, Lei Fang3, Jiangshan Shao4, Hailong Wu1, Zhongzheng Chen1,*()   

  1. 1 Collaborative Innovation Center of Recovery and Reconstruction of Degraded Ecosystem in Wanjiang Basin Co-founded by Anhui Province and Ministry of Education, School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, Anhui 241002
    2 Key Laboratory of Biological Resources Conservation and Utilization, College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, Anhui 241000
    3 Hefei Wild Animal Park, Hefei 230061
    4 Anhui Qingliangfeng National Nature Reserve, Jixi, Anhui 245300
  • Received:2021-08-02 Accepted:2021-12-23 Online:2022-04-20 Published:2022-03-30
  • Contact: Zhongzheng Chen

Abstract:

Aims: Southern Anhui has the richest animal diversity in Anhui Province, and is a biodiversity hotspot in East China. However, the research on the diversity of small mammals in this area is relatively lagging, and the background data of species still remains unclear.

Methods: During 2018 and 2019, we employed “method of catch rats per day and one clamp” and “trap method” in 14 regions in southern Anhui, and identified the samples using traditional morphological methods and DNA barcoding (Cyt b and COIgenes). In addition, we also assembled a checklist of small mammals in southern Anhui based on the previous literatures.

Results: A total of 647 specimens of small mammals were collected, belonging to 23 species, 17 genera, 8 families and 3 orders. The 3 orders contained 13 species of Rodentia, 9 species of Eulipotyphla and 1 species of Lagomorpha. The results of molecular analysis showed that Chodsigoa hypsibia, Megera latouchei, Berylmys bowersi, Callosciurus erythraeus and Mesechinus hughi in southern Anhui significantly differentiated from that in other regions. Combined with the checklist from literature review, we recorded a total of 34 species of small mammals belonging to 24 genera, 9 families and 3 orders in southern Anhui, with 23 species of Rodentia, 10 species of Eulipotyphla and 1 species of Lagomorpha.

Conclusion: Southern Anhui has a high diversity of small mammals which are important for biodiversity conservation in East China, yet its diversity may still be underestimated. There should be deeper investigations of the small mammal diversity in the region for better biodiversity protection planning in southern Anhui and the surrounding areas.

Key words: southern Anhui, small mammals, biodiversity, species list