Occurrence records of mammal species in Taita-Taveta, Kwale and Kilifi counties in Kenya

Many sighting observations of Kenyan mammal species as well as preserved museums specimens have not been digitized and published online. This dataset comprises of field observations of mammals and museums specimens collected from several studies conducted in three counties in Kenyan coast (Kwale, Kilifi and Taita-Taveta) in several years (2009, 2012, 2016, 2018). Medium and large sized mammals were recorded using direct or indirect methods using transect searches. Bats, were surveyed with mist-nets were set across bat flyways and others directly captured with hand nets as they flew out of active roosts. Rodents and shrews were sampled with Sherman traps and metal snap traps. A total of 77 mammal species were record in the three study counties represented by 11 mammal orders; Carnivora (Carnivores) 7 spp.); Cetartiodactyla (Even-toed and whales and dolphins (10 spp.); Chiroptera (Bats) 35 spp.); Erinaceomorpha (Hedgehogs) 1 spp.); Hyracoidea (Hyraxes) 1 spp.); Lagomorpha (Hares) 1 spp.); Macroscelidea (Elephant shrews) 3 spp.); Primates (Wild primates and man) 7 spp.); Proboscidae (African elephants) 1 spp.); Rodentia (Rodents) 10 spp.) and Soricomorpha (White-toothed shrews (1 spp.). Further detailed mammal ecological research is needed in the Kenyan coastal forests. This is because all these forests are highly disturbed by increasing human activities around them such as extraction of building materials and firewood, as well as encroachment for human settlements and crop cultivation.