This review of the Ethiopian and Eritrean mammal fauna recognises provisional totals of 277 terrestrial and 11 marine species. The terrestrial fauna is dominated by savanna forms (47.2 of the total), most of which are widespread but with significant numbers being derived from either the East African savannas or the sub-Saharan savanna belt. Deserticolous species (16.2) include many which are clearly associated with the Somali-arid zone. The 29 endemics are almost exclusively confined to the central plateaux at altitudes in excess of 1800 m and most are denizens of grassland or moorland habitats; few are forest species. Sylvicolous mammals are equally poorly represented amongst non-endemic forms (6.5) and it is concluded that Ethiopian forests have an impoverished fauna compared with those of Uganda and Zaire.
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