Species composition, habitat association and altitudinal distribution of rodents and shrewsrnwere assessed in Chato Protected Area (CPA), Ethiopia between July 2015 and March, 2016.rnThe area was stratified based upon vegetation types and altitudinal zonation. Based onrnvegetation and altitudinal composition, the study area was divided into five habitats. Thesernwere Carissa spinarum - Justicia schimperiana, Maytenus gracilipes, and Podocarpusrnfalcatus- Pyschotria orophila dominated areas and riverine and plantation habitats. A total ofrn254 individuals comprising five rodent and one shrew species were live trapped from 1862rntrap nights. These species of rodents were; Stenocephalemys albipes (40.95%), Lophuromysrnflavopunctatus (23.6%), Arvicanthis sp. (16.9%), Mus mahomet (13%), Mastomys natalensisrn(4.35%) and a shrew; shrew sp. (1.2%). Two of these rodent species (S. albipes and L.rnflavopunctatus) were the most abundant that comprised 64.56% of the total. They wererndistributed in the entire forest at variable elevations. The shrew sp. was the least abundantrnand was distributed along the center of the forest. Matyenus gracilipes dominated at 1,789 -rn1,975 m was the most diverse and comprise 19.39% trap success. Podocarpus falcatus-rnPyschotria orophila dominated from 1,975 to 2,230 m was another diverse habitat thatrncomprised the highest or 22.7% trap success. Plantation supported the least number ofrnrodents. Age and sex distribution of the rodents varied based upon seasons.rnKeywords: Altitudinal variation, Chato Protected Area, distribution, habitat, rodents,rnshrews