The Eastern Arc mountains (EAM) are a chain of isolated mountain ranges distributed in a crescent pattern along the eastern portion of Tanzania. Formed millions of years ago, these mountains contain some of the most biologically diverse and endemically rich montane ecosystems in all of Africa and have been called the "Galapagos Islands of Africa". Although biologists know these mountains contain unique species, little is known about the natural history of the forest organisms living at higher elevations. This is particularly distressing in light of the rapid habitat conversion and degradation occurring in these forests.For the past ten years, The Field Museum and the University of Dar es Salaam have investigated the ecology and distribution of the small mammals of the EAM. To date, we have visited several of the bigger mou
ntain ranges to inventory shrews, bats and rodents living in the montane forests. As a result of these and other faunal surveys and associated specimen-based research, there have been several new mammal species discovered and our knowledge of the natural history of the group has expanded. While the shrew fauna appears to contain the greatest number of endemic species, the rodents also show interesting patterns. Certain rodent species are broadly distributed across the archipelago but are not found at lower elevations. The small mammals from each mountain group may offer clues on the uniqueness of the Eastern Arc and the most effective way to conserve the habitat of this amazing group of mountains.
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