Afework Bekele

The Cryptic African Wolf: Canis aureus lupaster Is Not a Golden Jackal and Is Not Endemic to Egypt

The Egyptian jackal (Canis aureus lupaster) has hitherto been considered a large, rare subspecies of the golden jackal (C. aureus). It has maintained its taxonomical status to date, despite studies demonstrating morphological similarities to the grey wolf (C. lupus). We have analyzed 2055 bp of mitochondrial DNA from C. a. lupaster and investigated the similarity to C. aureus and C. lupus. Through phylogenetic comparison with all wild wolf-like canids (based on 726 bp of the Cytochrome b gene) we conclusively (100% bootstrap support) place the Egyptian jackal within the grey wolf species complex, together with the Holarctic wolf, the Indian wolf and the Himalayan wolf. Like the two latter taxa, C. a. lupaster seems to represent an ancient wolf lineage which most likely colonized Africa prior to the northern hemisphere radiation. We thus refer to C. a. lupaster as the African wolf. Furthermore, we have detected C. a. lupaster individuals at two localities in the Ethiopian highlands, extending the distribution by at least 2,500 km southeast. The only grey wolf species to inhabit the African continent is a cryptic species for which the conservation status urgently needs assessment.

Anti-predator behavior of gelada baboons

The anti-predator behavior of gelada baboons has been observed to consist of simple flight (i.e. they flee to cliffs after becoming alarmed by potential predators). However, active antipredator behavior was observed in a recently found gelada population in Arsi, Ethiopia. This population showed frequent active counter-attacks and severe mobbing at predators. Males fought domestic dogs on the plain and exhibited a systematic mobbing behavior towards a leopard on the cliff face to chase it off. These active anti-predator behaviors are the first confirmed reports on gelada baboons and may provide a useful insight for the understanding of the process of evolutionary adaptation to highland habitats by gelada baboons, as well as for the origin of this small southern population.

A Case of Infanticide in a Recently Found Gelada Population in Arsi, Ethiopia

There have been no reports of infanticide in wild gelada baboons and it has been argued that infanticide is not necessary in geladas, since the birth interval of female gelada can be shortened after takeover of a unit by a new leader male without infanticide. However, we observed an instance of infanticide in a newly-found wild gelada population in the Arsi Region of Ethiopia.After a leader male of the unit was severely wounded by a leopard attack, he was quite weakened. The second male of the unit, a young adult male, became the leader of the unit three weeks later, but the former leader continued to stay in the unit as a second male. After a week, two other adult males joined the unit which, therefore, came to include four adult males. The infanticide took place nine days later. The perpetrator was one of the immigrant males and he showed great interest in the mother of the unweaned victim infant. Although the perpetrator copulated with her after the infanticide, the usurper was found to own all three adult females after two weeks following the infanticide; i.e. the perpetrator could not own any female. The wounded former leader showed conspicuous protective behavior towards the victims mother and the dead infant.One possible explanation for the occurrence of infanticide in this population of geladas is as follows. Gelada males in this area may be able to join units more easily to form multi-male units but then have shorter tenure in the units. Facing the unstable condition of units, they may sometimes engage in infanticide to increase their breeding opportunities, even before becoming a leader.

Rodents of the Menagesha State Forest, Ethiopia, with an emphasis on the endemic Praomys albipes Rüppell 1842

A shrew and 12 species of rodents were recorded from the Menagesha State Forest, Ethiopia, from November 1991 to July 1993. A total of 293 specimens were trapped in 3209 trap nights. Trap success varied from 4.7 to 26.9%. Praomys albipes Ruppell 1842 was the most ubiquitous, comprising 54.3% of the total rodents captured in all habitats and 70.8% of the rodents captured in the forest. Species number and richness was low in disturbed habitats. Composition and distribution of the rodent fauna were compared with studies in other localities of Ethiopia. The effect of habitat degradation on the distribution of species and its concern was stressed.

Newly discovered Bale monkey populations in forest fragments in southern Ethiopia: evidence of crop raiding, hybridization with grivets, and other conservation threats.

Until recently, the Bale monkey (Chlorocebus djamdjamensis), an arboreal primate endemic to the southern Ethiopian highlands, remained virtually unstudied, and its distribution pattern inadequately documented. To broaden our knowledge of the species’ distribution and abundance, we carried out interviews with local people and total count surveys for Bale monkeys across 67 fragmented forest sites in human‐dominated landscapes in the Oromia and Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Regions, Ethiopia. From January 2010 to May 2011, we discovered 26 new Bale monkey populations inhabiting forest fragments at elevations ranging from 2,355 to 3,204 m asl. Across these populations, we recorded 37 groups ranging in size from 9 to 29 individuals (Mean = 19.5, SD = 4.5), for a total of 722 individuals. Black‐and‐white colobus monkeys (Colobus guereza) were sympatric with Bale monkeys at all sites, while grivet monkeys (Chlorocebus aethiops) were found only at sites where Bale monkeys did not occur. All of the newly discovered Bale monkey sites once contained bamboo forest, though at 35% of the sites bamboo forest had been eliminated during the past two decades. The persistence of Bale monkeys at fragmented sites lacking bamboo suggests greater habitat flexibility for the species than previously thought, though the long‐term viability of populations both with and without bamboo remains uncertain. Human hunting in response to crop raiding, a behavior the monkeys engaged in at all sites, represents a major threat facing the newly discovered Bale monkey populations. Furthermore, despite their current lack of sympatry, apparently hybrid individuals between Bale monkeys and grivets were noted at three sites, posing yet another potential obstacle to Bale monkey conservation. Community conservation programs aimed at (1) protecting remaining habitat fragments, (2) planting bamboo and trees within and between fragments, and (3) reducing crop raiding represent the only hope for survival of the newly discovered Bale monkey populations. Am. J. Primatol. 74:423‐432, 2012.

Sociological and demographic characteristics of a recently found arsi gelada population in ethiopia

A new population of gelada baboons isolated from other known gelada populations living on the opposite side of the Rift Valley was found in 1989 in the Arsi region of Ethiopia (Mori &Belay, 1990). Subsequent observations were conducted on the new gelada population in three study periods of 16 to 55 days over three consecutive years, 1994–1996. When we compare this population with other well studied northern populations, densities were lower, band size was smaller and the ratio of juveniles to adult females was lower. Based onOhsawa andDunbars (1984) criteria these results suggest that this population exploits the harshest environment among known gelada populations. This may be due to the severe effect of the dry season at low altitude in the study site. Band size was small in the study site. Association rates of units were low, and each unit behaved more independently than those of northern populations. Age-sex composition of units changed drastically between consecutive study periods, indicating unstable unit structure. Moreover, there seems to be a tendency in this population whereby several adult males easily invade and are incorporated into a unit but the unit is expected to thereafter divide. The phenomenon can be explained by two factors: (1) Each unit fed rather independently in this area, where units fed intensively on both plateau and the slope of the cliff; and (2) Males may be incorporated in a unit for defense against leopards. As the units were vary small in size and unstable as compared with the Semien gelada units, the traditional concept of a stable gelada unit formed by blood related females, does not seem to fit this population.

Genetic divergence in the genus Arvicanthis (Rodentia: Murinae)

Allozyme variation in four species of Arvicanthis (Arvicanthis sp. from Benin, A. abyssinicus, A. blicki, and A. dembeensis from Ethiopia) was studied by means of allozyme electrophoresis at 25 presumptive gene loci. Arvicanthis sp. showed high genetic differentiation from the three Ethiopian species (D = 0.839). Conversely, little genetic differentiation (D = 0.073) was observed between the sibling species A. abyssinicus and A. blicki, which are genetically more closely related to each other than to A. dembeensis (D = 0.234). This pattern is consistent with that based on chromosome rearrangements.

Forest blocks and altitude as indicators of Myomys albipes (Rüppell 1842) (Mammalia Rodentia) distribution in Ethiopia

Myomys albipes (Ruppel 1842) is an endemie rodent of the Ethiopian plateau. It occurs most commonly at altitudes between 1500 and 3300 m a.s.l. Its habitat varies from forest to scrub and the high altitude heathland. Information on altitude, vegetation, trap nights, trapping success and proportion of M. albipes in the catch were available for 26 localities throughout its distribution area. These were used to estimate the chances of finding the species at a given site. The species prefers the dense forests that are progressively shrinking, so perhaps it can be used as a reliable indicator of forest block reduction on an historical basis.

Karyotypic and genetic divergence in the Ethiopian Myomys ‐ Stenocephalemys complex (Mammalia, Rodentia)

Abstract The Ethiopian Myomys ‐ Stenocephalemys complex has long constituted a taxonomic and systematic puzzle. The species occur at different altitudes, from 1000 up to 4300 m a.s.l., and show remarkable adaptations to high altitude habitats. The four species forming the complex, M. albipes, M. ruppi, S. albocaudata and S. griseicauda, are all endemic to the country and constitute a monophyletic group. We describe their karyotypes, including their G‐ and C‐ banding patterns, and their allozyme patterns. Phylogenetic trees based on chromosomal rearrangements and al‐lozymes support the current taxonomy. Nonetheless, comparisons with genetic similarity data and other hypotheses drawn from mtDNA and geometric morphometrics show substantial disagreement, and therefore it is not possible to claim the paraphyly of Stenocephalemys which would then include Myomys.

A karyological study of the spiny mouse Acomys Geoffroy 1838 (Rodentia Muridae) along the Ethiopian Rift Valley

Descriptions are provided of chromosomal sets and comparative analyses of C-banded chromosomes of the spiny mice from the genus Acomys Geoffroy 1838, which were collected from five localities in Ethiopia (Gamo-Gofa province: Konso area, Arba Minch; upper part of Awash valley: Koka area; middle part of Awash valley: Awash National Park and 70 km North from Awash National Park). Two karyotypic forms were discovered: one, as expected A. cahirinus Desmarest 1819 (2n = 36, NF = 68) and one new for the Ethiopian fauna 68-chromosomal Acomys sp. The distribution of these forms is discussed. Details of the C-banded chromosomes of Acomys cahirinus and Acomys sp. are given for the first time. It was shown that both these karyotypes possess mainly pericentromeric heterochromatin and have insignificant differences in their quantities. It is possible that heterochromatin variations did not make a contribution to the karyotypic evolution of Acomys. Apparently, chromosomal evolution in this genus was determined by Robert...