A study of the abundances of small mammals was conducted in Idu, Uruan
L.G.A of Akwa Ibom State Nigeria from April to December 2013. Indirect and direct methods
for the observation of small mammals were employed in the area under study. A total of 36
individuals, consisting of 3 Orders (Rodentia, Carnivora and Pholidota) and 7 families of
small mammals were encountered. The most abundant was
Thryonomys swinderianus
with a
percentage of 63.88 followed by
Rattus rattus
16.66,
Cricetomys gambianus
8.33 while
Crossarchus obscurus
,
Atherurus africanus
,
Xerus erythropus
and
Manis tricuspis
accounted
for 2.77 respectively. The
Thryonomys swinderianus had the highest body mass of 3.9kg
while,
Manis tricuspis has the highest body length of 79.9cm. The abundance and diversity
index of small mammal encountered were low and this may be attributed to deforestation,
habitat loss, hunting and other anthropogenic activities in the study area. There is therefore a
great need for conservation and management practices to protect these vulnerable mammals
and their habitats.
