Tham N.T., Tu L.N., Duong V.T., Hai B.T., Abramov A.V., Kruskop S.V., Minh L.D., Son N.T. 2020. The first studies of small mammals of the Cham Chu and Bac Me Nature Reserves, north-eastern Vietnam // Russian J. Theriol. Vol.19. No.2. P.193–209 [in English].
Nguyen Thi Tham [thamnguyenctlhp@gmail.com], Le Duc Minh [le.duc.minh@hus.edu.vn] Faculty of Environmental Sciences, University of Science, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, 334 Nguyen Trai Road, Hanoi Vietnam and Central Institute for Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, 19 Le Thanh Tong, Hanoi, Vietnam; Ly Ngoc Tu [ngoctu1890@gmail.com], Center of Science and Technology, Hanoi Metropolitan University, 98 Duong Quang Ham, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Vietnam, Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Institute of Ecology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Vietnam; Vu Thuy Duong [vuthuyduong. xd@gmail.com], Nguyen Dinh Duy [nguyenduyfuv@gmail.com] and Nguyen Truong Son [truongsoniebr@gmail.com], Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources and Graduate University of Science and Technology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Vietnam; Bui Tuan Hai [tuanhai@eulipotyphla.com], Department of Nature Conservation, Vietnam National Museum of Nature and Graduate University of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Vietnam; Alexei V. Abramov [alexei.abramov@zin.ru], Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Universitetskaya nab. 1, Saint Petersburg 199034, Russia, and Joint Vietnamese-Russian Tropical Research and Technological Centre, Nguyen Van Huyen, Nghia Do, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Vietnam; Sergei V. Kruskop [kruskop@zmmu.msu.ru], Zoological Museum, Moscow State University, ul. Bolshaya Nikitskaya 2, Moscow 125009, Russia, and Joint Vietnamese-Russian Tropical Research and Technological Centre, Nguyen Van Huyen, Nghia Do, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Vietnam.
doi: 10.15298/rusjtheriol.19.2.10
ABSTRACT. Field surveys of mammals in two protected areas of the north-eastern limestone region of Vietnam, the Cham Chu (Tuyen Quang Province) and Bac Me (Ha Giang Province) Nature Reserves were conducted in 2018 and 2019. Thirty-five species of small mammals were recorded based both on field observations and on morphological and/or molecular evidence, as follows: one Scandentia species, four Eulipotyphla species, 14 Chiroptera species, and 16 Rodentia species. New records of Aselliscus dongbacanus and Chiromyscus thomasi in north-eastern Vietnam have been confirmed. Interestingly, the mole specimens collected during this study resemble Euroscaptor orlovi morphologically but significantly differ from it genetically. The present study has revealed that Chiroptera (38.9%) and Rodentia (47.2%) are the dominant groups in terms of their species diversity. Yet, the number of bat species is much lower as compared to that revealed by the previous study conducted in the same region (16 vs. 35). Although a couple of abundant species — Aselliscus dongbacanus (40 of 176 specimens) and Hipposideros cf. larvatus (37 of 176 specimens) — have been found during the present survey, other common species, such as Callosciurus inornatus and Rhizomys pruinosus, were very scarce, suggesting the occurrence of a severe anthropogenic pressure on small mammal fauna. More studies to assess a conservation status of and anthropogenic threats to small mammals are needed to protect them from serious population decline in the future.
KEY WORDS: checklist, north-eastern Vietnam, limestone region, Cham Chu, Bac Me.