Mima mounds in Kenya–a case of mistaken identity

Earth mounds at seven sites in upland areas of Kenya were examined. Termite activity was recorded from 91% of mounds and the major termite genus present was Odontotermes. Generally, signs of the mole rat, Tachyoryctes splendens were few and were present on only 18% mounds. All termite activity was mound-centred but only at Kiserian were mounds obvious centres for mole rat activity. At Molo, where Tachyoryctes were abundant, neither mounds nor much sign of termite activity were observed. The data are discussed in relation to the work of Cox and Gakahu. No convincing evidence was found to support the conclusion made by these workers for a mole rat origin of large earth mounds. The weight of the data suggests that a termite origin for these mounds is more likely.