RODENTS OF THE MENAGESHA-STATE-FOREST, ETHIOPIA, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON THE ENDEMIC PRAOMYS-ALBIPES RUPPELL 1842

A shrew and 12 species of rodents were recorded from the Menagesha Sta te Forest, Ethiopia, from November 1991 to July 1993. A total of 293 s pecimens were trapped in 3209 trap nights. Trap success varied from 4. 7 to 26.9%. Praomys albipes Ruppell 1842 was the most ubiquitous, comp rising 54.3% of the total rodents captured in all habitats and 70.8% o f the rodents captured in the forest. Species number and richness was low in disturbed habitats. Composition and distribution of the rodent fauna were compared with studies in other localities of Ethiopia. The effect of habitat degradation on the distribution of species and its c oncern was stressed.