PATTERNS OF DISTRIBUTION AND PROTECTION STATUS OF THE ENDEMIC MAMMALSIN SOUTH-AFRICA

South Africa contains the majority of southern Africa's endemic mammal s and hence is an important area for mammal conservation. Moreover, th ere is an increase in endemism, as determined by range maps, from the northern borders of the country towards the Western Cape Province. Wit hin this area, the Cape fold mountains have a high number of endemics, particularly those which have very restricted ranges. These mountains are at the transition of the Karoo and fynbos biomes and may be a reg ion of high species turnover. The numerous fynbos protected areas and mountain catchments, which incorporate over 30% of the Cape fold mount ains, thus protect many of the endemic mammals of this area. The major ity of these endemics are small mammals and many are listed in the Red Data Book, especially those restricted to the Nama- and Succulent Kar oo. This is of concern, as both areas are inadequately protected by th e existing protected areas. The coastal forests also contain many Red Data Book species, particularly Insectivora. These forests are, howeve r, inadequately protected in the Port St Johns region. In this analysi s data for the Insectivora were used to compare point and range data. The results indicate that patterns emerging from range maps provide a broad picture which can then be focused with the use of higher resolut ion data.