Heft 2 Seiten 105-112 Bonn

Abstract. Here we report on the existence of a new species of even-toed ungulate in the Brazilian Amazon, which we name Pecari maximus, the giant peccary. It represents the largest of living peccary species. One complete mitochondrial D-loop and two nuclear SINE PRE-1 DNA sequences of giant peccary compared with that of the sympatric and morphologically most similar collared peccary (Pecari tajacu) support full species status. The divergence time is estimated at 1.0-1.2 million years before present. In contrast to other peccaries, which are gregarious and range semi-nomadically in large home ranges, giant peccaries appear to live in family groups containing only a pair of adults, with or without 1-2 offspring. In view of recent developments in the interfluves where it lives and due to its limited distribution, we consider the giant peccary endangered