Red List of South African Species

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Least Concern (LC)
Assessors: Beryl Wilson James Harvey Matthew Child
Contributors: Claire Relton Nico Avenant Margaret Avery Rod Baxter Duncan MacFadyen Ara Mondajem Guy Palmer Peter Taylor Beryl Wilson
Reviewers: Beryl Wilson James Harvey Matthew Child

Rationale

Because of their natural rarity, information on this species is sparse. It is a Kalahari endemic species that is peripheral and scarce within the assessment region. In a recent survey, this species was not recorded in the North West Province, despite it supposedly occurring there. However, search effort is minimal at present and the lack of current records is more likely an artefact of low sampling effort, in combination with natural rarity, rather than an indication of decline, especially as the species occurs in habitats that are not suspected to be threatened by anything other than overgrazing. However, the widespread construction of solar farms in the Northern Cape Province may represent an emerging threat to this species and should be monitored.

Although the species is scarce and its estimated extent of occurrence within the assessment region is < 20,000 km2, the local population is probably augmented through dispersal across connected habitats from Namibia and Botswana where the majority of the species’ population occurs. This species may face emerging threats in association with development of solar farms, but Least Concern is retained until new data are available that indicate the species is genuinely threatened within the assessment region. We recommend field surveys be conducted to gather information on distribution, dispersal and threats.

Regional population effects: There is possible dispersal of this species from Namibia and Botswana via the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park and the northern border of the North West Province, as the preferred habitat is relatively contiguous. Thus rescue effects are possible.

Distribution

Occurring in arid and semi-arid habitats, this is a southern African Kalahari endemic, ranging from northwestern South Africa (Northern Cape Province) through central and western Botswana to eastern and northern Namibia (Skinner & Chimimba 2005) and into extreme southwestern Angola. Within the assessment region it is sparsely distributed where mean annual rainfall is 200–500 mm (Nel 2013).

The type specimen for the species is Kuruman, South Africa (Schwann 1906), indicating that at least until the early 1900s the species was present at this southern point. Avery and Avery (2011) have Holocene records from Blinkklipkop (cave) and Wonderwerk (cave) which are about 90 km and 60 km respectively south of Kuruman, as well as from Zoovoorbij which is 30 km southwest of Upington. They also had an even earlier Pleistocene record for Wonderwerk. This suggests that historically this species had a wider range than appears to be the current case and that the range is apparently shrinking northwards. Extensive field work in Wonderwerk during the late 1980s and early 1990s did not confirm the presence of this species (J. Erasmus unpubl. data; B. Wilson pers. comm.). Additionally, Power (2014) did not capture any individuals in a recent survey in North West Province, and neither are there any Ditsong museum records for the province, though it has been mapped to occur throughout the northern Kalahari areas (Friedmann & Daly 2004; Skinner & Chimimba 2005).

Population trend

Trend

Zelotomys spp. are naturally a rare or uncommon species and usually only form a small percentage of rodent communities and numbers can fluctuate widely at the local scale (Nel 2013). There seem to be slightly higher concentrations in high dune veld compared to low dune veld areas (Nel 2013). The majority of the population is thought to exist in Botswana since most of its distribution occurs in this area. However, a study in Koanaka Hills, Botswana found this species to be relatively rare, exhibiting low population densities (Thies & Lewis 2015), suggesting that it is possibly rare or patchily distributed in this region as well.

Threats

No major threats have been identified for this species. However, habitat loss and deterioration through overgrazing, frequent fires and bush encroachment may cause local declines. Mining activities which impact on historical watercourses such as the Gama Gara and Kuruman Rivers may also have local negative impacts on populations. The construction of large-scale solar farms in the Northern Cape may represent an emerging threat.

Uses and trade

This species is not traded or utilised in any form.

Conservation

This species occurs within the Kgalagadi Transfrontier National Park (South Africa), and although currently unconfirmed, presumably this species may occur in other protected areas within the assessment region, such as Augrabies Falls National Park. This species would likely benefit from protected area expansion, as well as stewardship schemes to protect woodland and historic water courses.

Recommendations for land managers and practitioners:
  • Populations should be monitored to record any changes in abundance and distribution.
  • Land managers should be encouraged to conserve woodlands and old trees.
  • Future mining activities in the Kuruman area and northwards should be assessed for potential impacts on preferred habitats for this species.
  • The species would benefit from suitable land management: land owners should leave corridors of grassland between grazed areas and decrease stocking rates.
Research priorities:
  • Additional studies are needed into the geographic distribution of this species.
  • Current population trends and the intensity of threats faced by local populations.
Encouraged citizen actions:
  • Report sightings on virtual museum platforms (for example, iSpot and MammalMAP), especially outside protected areas.
  • Landowners should preserve Acacia trees, both living and dead.

References 

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,]
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