Non-flying small mammals in Atlantic Forest fragments and agricultural lands in Viana, state of Espírito Santo, Brazil

We surveyed non-flying small mammals at Viana, Espírito Santo, southeastern Brazil, in 1981-1982 and 2006-2007. We trapped 439 non-flying small mammals belonging to three orders (Didelphimorphia, Rodentia, and Lagomorpha) and six families (Didelphidae, Sciuridade, Cricetidae, Muridae, Echimyidae, and Leporidae). The most abundant species were the rodents Akodon cursor and Nectomys squamipes and the marsupial Metachirus nudicaudatus. We recorded the echimyid rodent Euryzygomatomys spinosus for the first time in the state of Espírito Santo. The species richness (S = 21) and Shannon diversity index (H = 2.23) are among the highest recorded for Atlantic Forest small mammals in the state, even when compared to values from protected areas. These higher richness and diversity values are probably related to habitat heterogeneity and highlight the need for conservation of Viana's forest fragments, which are an important source of Atlantic Forest biodiversity.

survey; Didelphimorphia; Lagomorpha; Rodentia