A Faunistic study of Rodents (Mammalia: Rodentia) in Anjerk prohibited hunting area, Kerman Province

Identification of animal taxa living in prohibited hunting area and protected areas is one of the essential tasks for protection of biological diversity in these areas. For this purpose, in this study the rodent diversity of Anjerk prohibited area was investigated. Anjerek prohibited hunting area is situated in the east of Baft city (23,000ha) in Kerman province. Sampling was carried out in different places such as cultivated areas, gardens, houses and rocky areas. The collected specimens were identified with respect to their morphological, external, cranial and dental characteristics. During a faunistic study on different species of the rodents in this area six species belonging to five genera, five subfamilies and for families were collected. Sampling was performed from different places such as cultivated area, houses, gardens are stony areas using live traps. The results revealed that six species exist in this area which are as follows: Mus musculus, Calamyscus bailwardi, Meriones persicus, Meriones libycus, Cricetulus migratorius and Dryomys nitedula. An identification key was constructed for recognition of rodent species in this area.