Catalogue of the mammals of Ethiopia and Eritrea .7. Revised checklist, zoogeography and conservation

This review of the Ethiopian and Eritrean mammal fauna recognises provisional totals of 277 terrestrial and 11 marine species. The terrestrial fauna is dominated by savanna forms (47.2% of the total), most of which are widespread but with significant numbers being derived from either the East African savannas or the sub-Saharan savanna belt. Deserticolous species (16.2%) include many which are clearly associated with the Somali-arid zone. The 29 endemics are almost exclusively confined to the central plateaux at altitudes in excess of 1800 m and most are denizens of grassland or moorland habitats; few are forest species. Sylvicolous mammals are equally poorly represented amongst non-endemic forms (6.5%) and it is concluded that Ethiopian forests have an impoverished fauna compared with those of Uganda and Zaire. Conservation of wildlife, perennially starved of resources, has suffered greatly from neglect, poaching and destruction of property during the political crises of recent years. This situation is not irredeemable, given the return of peace and some measure of prosperity. If the region's actual and proposed national parks were to be fully established and effectively administered, they have the potential to provide sanctuary for 210 (76%) of the terrestrial mammals, including all but five of the endemic species (one shrew and four rodents). Amongst larger mammals which are unprotected, the apparently precarious situation of the Dibatag (Ammodorcas clarkei) gives particular cause for concern.