Small mammals occurrence across Namibia, 2023

Data Records

The data in this occurrence resource has been published as a Darwin Core Archive (DwC-A), which is a standardized format for sharing biodiversity data as a set of one or more data tables. The core data table contains 20 records.

This IPT archives the data and thus serves as the data repository. The data and resource metadata are available for download in the downloads section. The versions table lists other versions of the resource that have been made publicly available and allows tracking changes made to the resource over time.

Versions

The table below shows only published versions of the resource that are publicly accessible.

How to cite

Researchers should cite this work as follows:

Nako E, Matheus S, Fabiano E (2025). Small mammals occurrence across Namibia, 2023. Version 1.0. University of Namibia. Occurrence dataset. https://cloud.gbif.org/africa/resource?r=small_mammals_of_namibia&v=1.0

Rights

Researchers should respect the following rights statement:

The publisher and rights holder of this work is University of Namibia. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY 4.0) License.

GBIF Registration

This resource has been registered with GBIF, and assigned the following GBIF UUID: de6a2f72-361a-4bc1-aa16-0f012e95aa46.  University of Namibia publishes this resource, and is itself registered in GBIF as a data publisher endorsed by Participant Node Managers Committee.

Keywords

Occurrence; small mammals; Namibia; environmental gradient; taxonomic presence

Contacts

Geographic Coverage

This dataset encompasses small mammal occurrence records collected across seven administrative regions in Namibia: Khomas, Oshikoto, Kunene, Hardap, //Kharas, and Zambezi. These regions span diverse ecological and climatic zones, from hyper-arid deserts to mesic woodlands, offering rich spatial and habitat coverage. Khomas Region (approx. 22.56° S, 17.08° E) Located in central Namibia, Khomas includes the elevated Khomas Highland and parts of the Central Plateau. The region features semi-arid thornbush savanna and rugged topography, serving as a transition zone between the Namib Desert and interior highlands. Oshikoto Region (approx. 18.47° S, 16.80° E) Situated in north-central Namibia, Oshikoto lies within the Cuvelai Basin. The region is characterized by mopane woodlands and ephemeral drainage systems, with a semi-arid climate and seasonal wetlands influencing local small mammal communities. Kunene Region (approx. 18.74° S, 13.99° E) Covering northwestern Namibia, Kunene spans a gradient from arid desert systems to mountainous and semi-arid savannas. It includes parts of the Kaokoveld and Etendeka Plateaus, supporting desert-adapted mammals and unique microhabitats. Hardap Region (approx. 24.35° S, 17.67° E) Located in south-central Namibia, Hardap consists of escarpment areas, ephemeral river valleys, and karoo shrubland. It experiences low and erratic rainfall, with sparse vegetation and isolated water sources shaping the distribution of mammalian fauna. //Kharas Region (approx. 27.61° S, 17.52° E) The southernmost and largest region in Namibia, //Kharas, is dominated by the Namib Desert, rocky hills, and open gravel plains. It includes sections of the Succulent Karoo biome and supports highly xeric-adapted small mammals. Zambezi Region (approx. 17.50° S, 24.27° E) Located in the far northeastern tip of Namibia, Zambezi is ecologically distinct with high rainfall and permanent water systems. It forms part of the Zambezi floodplain and miombo woodland belt, harbouring rich biodiversity and unique mammal assemblages.

Taxonomic Coverage

This dataset includes small mammal records from two orders: Rodentia and Macroscelidea, representing three families and a total of seven genera. These taxa were recorded during field surveys conducted across various ecological regions in Namibia. Order Rodentia Family Nesomyidae: Petromyscus Family Muridae: Tatera, Desmodillus, Aethomys, Steatomys, Micaela Order Macroscelidea Family Macroscelididae: Elephantulus The dataset primarily features rodents, including desert-adapted gerbils (Tatera, Desmodillus), rock mice (Petromyscus), and other small murids. It also includes elephant shrews (Elephantulus), which are insectivorous mammals with distinct ecological roles.

Temporal Coverage

Project Data

The project has 4 primary and measurable objectives as follows: 1. Streamlined National Reporting Across Biodiversity-related Multi-lateral Environmental Agreements 2. National Scale and Trans-boundary Land-Use Planning (i.e., Protected Areas, Land Degradation and Restoration Strategies) is Guided by the Outputs of the Spatial Biodiversity Data Products 3. Increased Capacity for the Sustained Production of National-scale Spatial Biodiversity Data Products 4. Upscaled Impacts to other African Countries through the Provision of Technical Documentation and Workflows for Spatial Data Products The current formulation of the post2020 Global Biodiversity Framework includes multiple spatially based goals and targets (e.g., Goal A (area, connectivity and integrity of ecosystems), Goal B (national environmental accounts), Target 1 (land and sea-use change); Target 2 (area-based restoration), Target 3 (area-based protection), Target 10 (area under sustainable agriculture and forest management), etc.). New techniques integrating nationally based data with remotely sensed data products are emerging that can inform more strategic and sustainable land-use management that address multiple policy targets across multiple conventions addressing such issues as land degradation (i.e. UN Convention on Combating Desertification (UNCCD)), biodiversity conservation (i.e., UN Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD)), restoration (both UNCCD and UNCBD), and carbon sequestration (i.e., UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) as well as more specific national development policies (e.g., agricultural policy governing livestock grazing). These efforts include spatial analyses pioneered in Africa (spatial biodiversity assessments using Red-List of Ecosystem methodology) along with new approaches for defining, mapping, and measuring land-degradation in relation to conservation, restoration, and carbon sequestration targets. This approach will provide direct benefits in terms of more integrated and sustainable approaches to the management of ecosystems in Namibia and neighboring countries and the tracking of related targets under multiple conventions. Having the spatial data products managed on a spatial data repository and accessible through a customizable MEA Tracking Platform will ensure data collection is directly serving policy needs and the tracking and guidance for targets is streamlined across multiple agencies with land-use planning mandates. This approach will lower the threshold for Namibia to develop its own national spatial monitoring

The personnel involved in the project:

Sampling Methods

Within each quarter-degree cell, standardized 50 x 50 meter plots were established for small mammal trapping. In nine of the twelve cells, six such plots were selected—three intensively sampled and three randomly selected. Site selection considered factors like habitat type, human disturbance, and accessibility. Plots were deliberately positioned to capture contrasts between relatively undisturbed (natural) and more impacted environments. Fifteen Sherman live traps were deployed per plot, arranged along three 50-meter transects spaced 10 meters apart, with five traps per transect. Bait consisted of peanut butter and oats, and traps were set between 16:00 and 19:00, placed near features such as shrubs and logs to increase capture likelihood. Traps were checked early each morning (06:00–09:00) for three consecutive days. Captured individuals were identified to species, and information such as sex, body weight, body length, tail length, and age class was recorded. Animals were photographed and released at the site of capture.

Method step description:

1. Site Selection: Based on quarter-degree cells distributed across ecological zones, emphasizing environmental variation. Plot Establishment: 50 x 50 meter plots delineated at each site, stratified by disturbance and accessibility. Trap Setup: 15 Sherman traps placed in three transects per plot, baited with peanut butter and oats. Daily Monitoring: Traps were activated from 18:00 to 06:00 for three nights; animals checked each morning. Data Collection: For each captured individual, weight, body length, tail length, sex, and age were recorded; tissue samples and photographs taken. Release: Animals were released at their original capture sites. Post-Trapping: Traps were closed during daylight to avoid accidental captures and were retrieved after three days.

Additional Metadata