POPULATION DENSITY AND SEASONAL DISTRIBUTION OF RODENT SPECIES AT SHEEP FARMING IN El-KAWTHER REGION, SOHAG GOVERNORATE, EGYPT

The present work aimed to give an idea about the incidence and distribution of rodents species in sheep farms at Sohag University during December, 2012 till November.2013. Results revealed the presence of three species of rats included the Lesser garbia, Gerbillus sp., (1.08%);the Nile grass rat, Arvicanthis niloticus (4.44%.), and the white bellied rat, Rattus rattus frugivorus (94.27%.).On the other hand, the highest populations of rodent species were recorded in spring (34.41%) and summer (29.03%) followed by autumn (20.79% and winter (15.77%), respectively.