Mammal survey Pol'ana - De Zoogdiervereniging

4.2 MORPHOLOGY OF CASUALTIES by: Jeroen van der Kooij
Unfortunately not all of the animals survive trapping. These animals were measured and collected.
Measurements were also taken of animals which occasionally were found (fresh) dead in the field (e.g.
traffic victims). Appendix 3 gives an overview of the specimens and their morphology.
4.3 MISCELLANEOUS OBSERVATIONS by: Froukje Rienks
Next to trapping and netting mammals to determine their presence, also a number of species was oberved in
the field or by tracks. Excluding the bats, a total of 30 mammal species were found the latter way, of which
25 were not already found via trapping. Each species is considered more in detail below.
Eastern Eastern hedgehog hedgehog ( (Erinaceus ( ( Erinaceus Erinaceus concolor concolor) concolor concolor
The eastern hedgehog is seen on six occasions throughout the research area. It is known but not common in
Mid-Slovakia. The species prefers lowlands and hills of up to 800 meters (Mitchell-Jones et al., 1999) – the
outer zones of the Pol’ana area fall into that category. The western hedgehog reaches its distribution border
at the Czech-Slovakian border and is therefore not present in the region.
Alpine Alpine shrew shrew ( (Sorex ( ( Sorex al alpinus al alpinus
pinus) pinus
Two dead alpine shrews are found in the area. In the Carpathian region this species of montane and alpine
habitats is widespread.
Pygmy Pygmy shrew shrew ( (Sorex (
Sorex minutus minutus) minutus
Two pygmy shrews were found dead (in a bottle in an abandoned hut) and one was trapped. The species is
present throughout Slovakia.
Miller’s Miller’s water water shrew shrew ( (Neomys ( Neomys anomalus) anomalus)
anomalus)
Both water shrew species occur in the research area and both are caught in live traps. One of the two,
Miller’s water shrew, is also found in owl pellet debris (section 4.5).
Bi Bi-coloured Bi
coloured white white-toothed white toothed shrew shrew ( (Crocidura ( Crocidura leucodon leucodon) leucodon
This Crocidura species is found only once, in an owl pellet (see section 4.5). It is not present in the whole of
Slovakian territory.
Common Common mole mole ( (Talpa ( Talpa europaea europaea) europaea
The common mole was also present, as was stated by two dead individuals and several locations with
molehills or passages. No other Talpa species occur in Slovakia.
Brown Brown hare hare hare ( (Lepus ( Lepus europaeus europaeus) europaeus
Brown hares are seen on eight occasions. This species is quite common in Slovakia. Its relative the rabbit is
absent in the research area, as in the whole of this mid-Slovakian region.
Red Red squirrel squirrel squirrel ( (Sciurus ( Sciurus Sciurus vulgaris vulgaris) vulgaris
A handful of red squirrels is sighted during the research period, one of them (near Látky) was strikingly darkcoloured.
The species is common in Slovakia, though not in the neighbouring country of Hungary.
22 Dutch Mammal Society