Kaszab Zoltán (szerk.): A Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum évkönyve 74. (Budapest 1982)

Demeter, A. ; Topál, G.: Ethiopian mammals in the Hungarian Natural History Museum

Notes : The Harar specimen has a very dark pelage, black to the extent that the terminal dark portion of the tail is barely discernible. The relative position of this specimen in the bivariate scatter diagram of WAB vs. C-M

2-L given in YALDEN et al. (1980: 199, Fig. 4) indicates that it belongs to sanguineus. Dark specimens are known in Ethiopia from higher altitutes with increased rainfall, including the Harar region (INGERSOL, 1968). The Gibdo specimen represents the only known record of the species from northern Dankali, isolated by a hiatus of several hundred kilometers from the nearest hitherto known localities in Ethiopia (YALDEN et al., 1980). Based on cranial measurements it could be referred to ochraceus, which was recognized as a distinct species in Somalia by FUNAIOLI & SIMONETTA (1960). YALDEN et al. (loc. cit.) have hesitantly synonymized this forms with sanguineus, and we have adopted this conservative view here. Forthcoming studies may provide more evidence for the recognition of the two reputed species. Herpestes (Herpestes) ichneumon (LINNAEUS, 1758) Specimens: Holetta* (1 $ , S +S), Menagesha Forest* (1 $, S +S). Notes : Though widely distributed, this semi-diurnal mongoose is not common in Ethiopia (YALDEN & al., 1980). Ichneumonia albicauda (G. CUVIER, 1829) Specimens : Akaki river, Addis Ababa (1 sex?, .S), Addis Ababa (1 sex?, .S; 2 sex?, S -j-S), "Abyssinia" (9 sex?, .S). Notes. One skin is black-tailed and one skull is known to have belonged to a similar animal. Just the reverse is true for the remaining skin and skull and one skull specimens, those belonging to white-tailed examples. Unfortunately, a large series of skulls is without locality data, as they were indirectly obtained from GAJDÁCS. This common mongoose is a frequent visitor to towns in East Africa (KINGDON, 1977). One specimen was a road-killed victim in the Old Airport district of Addis Ababa. Sight records (A. D.): Sodere, Zwai, between Welenchiti and Metahara. Proteles cristatus (SPARRMAN, 1783) Specimen: ? Addis Ababa (1 sex?, S +S). Notes : The locality of this record is highly doubtful, since not only would it provide the most westernly locality of the Aardwolf in Ethiopia but also it would be by far the highest altitude at which ever recorded in the country. It is almost certain that this arid form (KINGDON, 1977) was obtained somewhere in the northern entrance of the Rift Valley, where it is known to be common (YALDEN & al., 1980). Sight record (A. D.): Awash National Park. Hyaena hyaena (LINNAEUS, 1758) Specimens : Assab* (1 çf

, .S

; 1 sex?, .S). Notes : This species is not uncommon in the eastern and southern lowlands of the country (YALDEN & al., 1980). Crocuta crocuta (ERXLEBEN, 1777) Specimens : Lake Langano (1 juv. sex?, .S), "Abyssinia" (2 çf, .S). Notes: It is a common and widely distributed carnivore of Ethiopia (BOLTON, 1973), though none was seen in a 3-month tour in central Ethiopia (A. D.). Felis (Felis) silvestris SCHREBER, 1777 Specimens : Addis Ababa (1 çf +1 $, .S). Notes : Sight records (A. D.) : between Welenchiti and Metahara, in Acacia scrub. It was a pale individual, probably an ocreata, to which all Ethiopian specimens are referred by YALDEN & al. (1980).