Biodiversity and ecology of small mammals (Rodents and Shrews) of the ``Reserve de Faune a Okapis'', Democratic Republic of the Congo

We carried Out a small mammal (rodents and shrews) inventory in the Okapi Fauna Reserve in the Ituri Forest, Democratic Republic of Congo. Using snap traps and life traps we collected 1577 specimens of small mammals belonging to 7 species of Soricomorpha and 23 species of Rodentia. Rodents included Hylomyscus parvus, which previously only was known in D.R.Congo near Kisangani. The record of Crocidura congobelgica (Soricornorpha) is the second record after the description of the species. Hybomys cf. lunaris (27.58\%) and Praomys jacksoni (21.81\%) were the most abundant and ubiquitous Species Oil the prospected habitats (mixed forest, monodominant forest, swampy forest, hill forest, secondary forest and fallows) except in grassy fallows where Lophuromys dudui was the most abundant species. Other common species in the Reserve included Deomys ferrugineus. Hylomyscus stella, H. aeta, Malacomys longipes and Praomys misonnei. Shrews included Crocidura congobelgica, C. hildegardeae, C olivieri and Scutisorex somereni. The Shannon-Wiener and Simpson diversity indices show a large diversity and high equitability in small mammal communities. The sex ratio for the principal species was near parity. All the species seemed to breed throughout the year but for most reproduction was less intensive in the dry season.