The mammals of the temperate forests of Volcan Sumaco, Ecuador

Resumen

A mammal survey was conducted at 2500 m on the eastern slope of Volcan Sumaco, Napo Province, Ecuador.Volcan Sumaco is located east of the eastern slope of the Andes.The mountain is isolated from the eastern cordillera of the Andes by the Rio Cosanga and Rio Quijos River Valleys.The ecosystem of the survey area is Temperate Mountain Forest (Sierra 1999).Sherman traps, pitfall traps, and mist nets were used to collect the specimens.Seven¬ teen species of mammals were found from the survey area; of these, thirteen were collected and four more were observed.Among the specimens collected were four species (Cryptotis equatoris, Eptesicus chiriquinus, Thomasomys fumeus, and Neusticomys monticolus) that rep¬ resent significant range records for their species.Moreover, two species (Anourafistulata and E. chiriquinus) represent new elevation records for their species in eastern Ecuador.Shannon diversity analyses were performed for the overall bat diversity and compared to other mountain forest locations in Ecuador.