Abstract:
The lesser pouched rat, Beamys hindei, is a small rodent that is patchily distributed in the Eastern Arc Mountains
and coastal forests in East Africa. The ecology of this species and its current distribution in coastal forests
is not well known. Therefore, we conducted a study in selected coastal forests to assess the current distribution
of the species and to investigate the population ecology in terms of abundance fluctuations and demographic
patterns. Assessments of the species distribution were conducted in 5 forests through trapping with Sherman
live traps. Data on ecology were obtained from monthly capture–mark–recapture studies conducted for 5
consecutive nights per month in two 1 ha grids set in Zaraninge Forest over a 2-year period. The results indicate
the presence of B. hindei in 3 forests where it was not previously recorded. The population abundance estimates
ranged from 1 to 40 animals per month, with high numbers recorded during rainy seasons. Reproduction
patterns and sex ratios did not differ between months. Survival estimates were not influenced by season, and recruitment
was low, with growth rate estimates of 1 animal per month. These estimates suggest a stable population
of B. hindei in Zaraninge Forest. Further studies are recommended to establish the home range, diet and
burrowing behavior of the species in coastal forests in East Africa.
