Checklist of Mammals in Ikh Nart Nature Reserve

Abstract

We present a checklist of mammal species recorded in Ikh Nart Nature Reserve, Dornogobi Aimag from August 2004 to August 2007 to add to existing knowledge about mammal distribution in Mongolia. We recorded the presence of mammals through opportunistic observations and live captures as part of on-going research projects in the reserve. We recorded 33 mammal species representing seven orders, 15 families, and 28 genera. Rodentia ( n =14 species) represented the most speciose order and Perissodactyla ( n =1 species) the least speciose. Of mammals present, one third are classi fi ed as IUCN threatened or near threatened in Mongolia, fi ve are listed in CITES appendices, and six are categorized as rare under the Mongolian Law on Fauna. Ikh Nart reserve harbors a quarter of the native mammal species known to occur in Mongolia, yet its size covers <0.05% of the country’s land area. Given the high diversity, high proportion of declining species, and small land area of the reserve, we suggest that Ikh Nart should represent a priority area for mammal conservation efforts in Mongolia.

Keywords

• checklist
• diversity
• Dornogobi
• Ikh Nart
• mammal
• Mongolia