Distribution, population density and behavior of dwarf galagos (Paragalago sp.) in Taita Hills, Kenya

We studied habitat preferences and behavior of dwarf galagos (Paragalago sp.), recently rediscovered from the Taita Hills, Kenya. Small populations of Taita dwarf galagos survive in the two largest remnants of moist montane forest. Inspection of several smaller forest fragments failed to provide evidence of additional survivors. Acoustic data on the two remaining populations were obtained with AudioMoths, and analyzed in relation to forest structure data obtained by airborne lidar and by ground-level observations. A Zero-inflated negative binomial GLMM was implemented with calls per hour as the response variable and indicator of relative population density. Our results demonstrate that Taita dwarf galagos prefer dense canopy coverage and avoid forest edges. Regarding forest height, they prefer lower 20–30 m tall forest. Forest size also significantly affects Taita dwarf galago population size. Mbololo forest (185 ha) has a relatively viable population, whereas in Ngangao forest (120 ha) dwarf galagos are nearly extinct. The calls of Taita dwarf galagos resemble calls of Kenya coast dwarf galagos (Paragalago cocos). However, some differences exist between the Taita animals and those recently recorded by us at the Kenyan coast, and even between the two remaining populations in the Taita Hills. In addition to other data, we present the first ever photographs of the Taita dwarf galagos from the Mbololo forest and compare them to those from Ngangao forest and the Kenya coast from Diani and Shimba Hills. We conclude that DNA studies are urgently needed to resolve the taxonomic status of both surviving populations of dwarf galagos in the Taita Hills.