Richness and zoogeographic affinities of mammals in a sub-Andean forest in the middle basin of the Cauca River, Colombia

Abstract The middle Cauca River basin is an inter-Andean region located in Colombia and is part of one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots. However, this region, historically and continuously impacted by human activities, lacks detailed information about the mammal species it harbours. We compiled a mammal species checklist in one of the region’s forests and explored zoogeographic affinities through fieldwork, literature reviews, and the analysis of specimens deposited in the biological collections. This forest, known as the Bosque San Francisco, is a sub-Andean ecosystem with characteristics of both dry and montane forests, representing a potential refuge for biodiversity. We recorded 55 mammal species encompassing 48 genera, 24 families, and 8 orders, representing 9.94 % of Colombia’s mammal species. Four species ( Leopardus pardinoides , Leopardus wiedii , Lontra annectens , and Aotus griseimembra ) are classified as Near Threatened or Vulnerable. Chiroptera (24 species) was the most diverse order followed by Carnivora (10 species) and Rodentia (eight species). All recorded species exhibit broad latitudinal range and are not restricted to a specific ecoregion, however, the species similarity analysis indicates that elevation is key to explain diversity patterns. Thus, determining the mechanisms that structure and sustain biodiversity in these ecosystems requires further research efforts.