The mammals of the Transvaal.
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Date
1978
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Abstract
The primary object of this study is to provide a checklist of the mammals occurring within the Transvaal. A general biological
account of each species forms the bulk of this treatise,
- discussing, in order of sequence, firstly the taxonomic status
of each species as based on a study of available museum specimens.
Thereafter the distribution of each species is discussed,
and illustrated with a map of known distribution. Remarks are
presented on the various environmental factors that may influence
individual species ranges. Habitat preferences, habits,
and food preferences are then discussed. Available data on
breeding seasonality, as based on the monthly ratio of reproductively
active and inactive females, are given. External measurements
and masses of males and females are tabulated. Records
of occurrence based on the number of museum specimens
from each locality, and the institution where these specimens
are housed, are finally listed for each species. The text is
supplemented by a gazetteer, giving the latitudinal and longitudinal
coordinates of all the collecting localities.
This study is based on some 12 000 museum specimens, the
greatest majority housed in the Transvaal Museum collections.
During the field work phase of this project, 57 localities were
sampled. This yielded the majority of the specimens and the
greater part of the data on which this book is based. Information
gained from a study of earlier collected material supplements
these data files. Additional information such as sight
records, field observations, and the published accounts of
other scientists, have also been incorporated into the central
data files and have been discussed in relation to my own findings.
The results of selected studies comprise the discussion.
The basic behavioural trends and mean mass of all the carnivore
species of the Transvaal are employed to speculate on how interspecific
competition is avoided. The distribution of all southern
African mammals is employed to statistically evaluate the validity of the biotic zones previously empirically recognized
for this subcontinent. The distribution patterns of Transvaal
mammals are statistically analysed to subdivide the biotic
zones overlying the Transvaal into community types of zoogeographical
significance. Other zoogeographical phenomena are
discussed in relation to regional species diversity. Reprints
of papers arising from this study, and particularly the discussion,
are bound in as appendices to this report.
Description
Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1978.
Keywords
Mammals--Transvaal., Animals--Transvaal., Theses--Zoology.