Leptotyphlops Australis (NCN): Predation

Burrowing Owls (Athene cunicularia) are known to include snakes and other reptiles in their diet (König et al. 1999. Owls: A Guide to the Owls of the World. Yale Univ. Press, New Haven, Connecticut. 462 pp.). On 25 October 2008, on Provincial Road 7, 20 km E Paso Cordova, Departamento El Cuy, Rio Negro Province, Argentina (39.1818ºS, 67.4053ºW, datum WGS84; elev. 405 m), a set of regurgitated A. cunicularia pellets was collected near an active owl burrow.Fil: Formoso, Anahí Elizabeth. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Nacional Patagónico; ArgentinaFil: Podestá, Darío Hector. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Nacional Patagónico; ArgentinaFil: Avila, Luciano Javier. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Nacional Patagónico; Argentin

Primera descripción del nido de Irenomys tarsalis, un roedor sigmodontino endémico de los bosques subandinos

The Chilean tree rat, Irenomys tarsalis is a rare sigmodontine endemic to the Southern Andean forests and very little is known about its habits. The aim of this work was to describe its breeding nest. The nest was located inside a hollow of a living Lenga Beech (Nothofagus pumilio) in Fontana Lake proximities, Chubut province, Argentina. The nest was located 2 m above ground and inside an oval hollow, with 2 openings in upper part and opposite to main opening. The material of the nest was: scarce feathers and lichens, dry and fine grass, pieces of small sticks and scraped material from internal side of the trunk. Associated arthropod fauna was not found, but two specimens of flea from Rhopalopsyllidae family were recovered. Nesting in tree habits supports the thought of a long and close association between Irenomys tarsalis and Notophagus forest. This note allowed us to add new information on the breeding biology of one of the least known sigmodontine of the Southern Temperate Rain Forest and to the limited knowledge on sigmodontine rodent. Keywords: Chilean tree rat, nesting habits, Nothofagus, Patagonia, Argentina.La rata de los árboles, Irenomys tarsalis, es un sigmodontino endémico de los bosques subandinos y se sabe muy poco acerca de sus hábitos. El objetivo de este trabajo fue describir su nido. Éste se encontró en el interior de un hueco de una lenga (Nothofagus pumilio) en las proximidades del lago Fontana, provincia del Chubut, Argentina. El nido estaba situado 2 m por encima del suelo y dentro de un hueco de forma ovalada, con 2 aberturas en la parte superior y opuestas a la principal. El nido estaba formado por pocas plumasy líquenes, hierba seca y fina, trozos de palillos y material raspado de la superficie interna del tronco. La fauna de artrópodos hallada en el material del nido estuvo comprendida por 2 ejemplares de pulgas de la familia Rhopalopsyllidae. Esta nota permitió añadir nueva información sobre la biología de la reproducción de uno de los sigmodontinos menos conocidos del bosque templado de sudamérica y al conocimiento limitado sobre roedores sigmodontinos.Fil: Formoso, Anahí Elizabeth. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Nacional Patagónico; ArgentinaFil: Sánchez, Juliana Patricia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico la Plata. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores (i); Argentin

Riqueza, endemismo y conservación de roedores sigmodontinos en Argentina

Sigmodontine rodents, with 86 genera and ~430 living species, constitute one of the most successful radiations of Neotropical mammals. In this contribution, we studied the distributional ranges of 108 sigmodontine species in Argentina. Our objectives were (i) to establish geographical patterns of species richness and endemism, and (ii) to evaluate the regional conservation status of these taxa. We constructed a minimum convex polygon for each species, using information from literature and biological collections. Individual maps were superimposed on a map of Argentina divided into cells of 25 km on each side. For each cell, we calculated the species richness, which varied between 1 and 21 species, and its degree of endemism, which fluctuated between 0.001 and 3.28. There were 30 species of sigmodontine rodents distributed almost exclusively in Argentina, most of them restricted to forested areas (Southern Andean Yungas) or to arid and semiarid environments (High and Low Monte and Patagonian Steppe). Areas with high species richness and endemism scores corresponded grossly with the Southern Andean Yungas, the Humid Chaco plus the Paraná flooded savannas, the Alto Parana Atlantic forests plus the Araucaria moist forests, the High Monte and the ecotone between the Patagonian steppe and the Valdivian temperate forests. A reassessment of the conservation status of sigmodontine rodents distributed in Argentina retrieved 2 extinct species, 7 endangered, 7 vulnerable, 6 near threatened and 13 data deficient. These numbers suggest a much more serious situation than the expressed by previous evaluations, highlighting the urgent need to establish conservation measures for the protection of this group.Los roedores sigmodontinos, con 86 géneros y ~430 especies vivientes, constituyen una de las radiaciones más exitosas de mamíferos neotropicales. En esta contribución, estudiamos los rangos de distribución de 108 especies de sigmodontinos en Argentina. Nuestros objetivos fueron (i) establecer patrones geográficos de riqueza de especies y endemismo y (ii) evaluar el estado de conservación regional de estos taxones. Construimos un polígono convexo mínimo para cada especie, utilizando información de la literatura y colecciones biológicas. Los mapas individuales fueron superpuestos en un mapa de Argentina dividido en celdas de 25 km de lado. Para cada celda, calculamos la riqueza de especies, que varió entre 1 y 21, y su grado de endemismo, que fluctuó entre 0.001 y 3.28. Hubo 30 especies de roedores sigmodontinos distribuidos casi exclusivamente en Argentina, la mayoría de ellos restringidos a áreas boscosas (Yungas andinas del sur) o a ambientes áridos y semiáridos (Monte alto y bajo y Estepa Patagónica). Las áreas con mayor riqueza de especies y valores más altos de endemismo se correspondieron groseramente con las Yungas andinas del sur, el Chaco húmedo más las Sabanas inundadas de Paraná, el Bosque Atlántico del Alto Paraná más los Bosques húmedos de araucaria, el Monte alto y el ecotono entre la Estepa Patagónica y los Bosques templados valdivianos. Una reevaluación del estado de conservación de los roedores sigmodontinos distribuidos en Argentina recuperó 2 especies extintas, 7 en peligro, 7 vulnerables, 6 casi amenazadas y 13 con datos deficientes. Estas cifras sugieren una situación mucho más grave que la expresada en evaluaciones anteriores, destacando la necesidad urgente de establecer medidas de conservación para la protección de este grupo.Fil: Formoso, Anahí Elizabeth. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Centro Nacional Patagónico; ArgentinaFil: Teta, Pablo Vicente. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"; Argentin

Ensambles de micromamíferos y variables ambientales en Patagonia continental extra-andina argentina

Tesis presentada para optar al Grado de Doctor en Ciencias NaturalesFil: Formoso, Anahí Elizabeth. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo; Argentin

Morphometry, body weight, and winter diet of least seedsnipe <i>Thinocorus rumicivorus</i> in Buenos Aires Province

La subespecie del sur de la Agachona Chica (<i>Thinocorus rumicivorus rumicivorus</i>) es un ave de estepas, vegas y lagunas que, en Argentina, habita en la Patagonia. Durante la época invernal migra al centro de Chile y noreste de Argentina y Uruguay. Los productores consideran que las bandadas migratorias de esta ave utilizan sus cultivos de invierno y recurren a métodos de control químico. Como la información sobre su biología es escasa, se presenta información de ocho individuos capturados en un cultivo de colza (<i>Brassica napus</i>) de la localidad de Chillar, provincia de Buenos Aires en julio de 2004. El peso promedio de los individuos fue de 54.3 g. No se encontraron diferencias significativas en la morfometría entre los sexos. El contenido estomacal tuvo un peso promedio de 0.42 g, variando el contenido vegetal entre 11–67% del total. El resto estuvo formado por fragmentos de origen mineral. En orden decreciente de predominancia se encontraron semillas de las familias Polygonaceae, Poaceae, Cyperaceae, Fabaceae, Convolvulaceae, Chenopodiaceae y Asteraceae. No se hallaron restos de colza en ninguno de los contenidos analizados. La Agachona Chica parece alimentarse principalmente de la vegetación que crece como maleza en los cultivos. Se recomienda desarrollar estudios más detallados sobre su dieta y hábitos de alimentación, dado que la especie es blanco de control químico entre los agricultores de Buenos Aires.The southern subspecies of the Least Seedsnipe (<i>Thinocorus rumicivorus rumicivorus</i>) inhabits steppes, water meadows and lagoons, and in Argentina it occurs in Patagonia. During the winter it migrates to central Chile and northeastern Argentina and Uruguay. Farmers believe that these migrating birds feed on their winter crops and apply chemical control methods on them. Since information on the biology of the Least Seedsnipe is scarce, we analyzed eight specimens captured in an oilseed rape (<i>Brassica napus</i>) crop in Chillar, Buenos Aires Province, in July 2004. Mean body weight of the specimens was 54.3 g. No significant morphometric differences were noted between sexes. Mean stomach content weight was 0.42 g, and vegetal contents ranged between 11–67%. The remaining stomach contents were mineral fragments. In decreasing order of predominance, seeds of the following families were found: Polygonaceae, Poaceae, Cyperaceae, Fabaceae, Convolvulaceae, Chenopodiaceae, and Asteraceae. No rests of oilseed rape were found in any of the analyzed stomach contents. We infer that Least Seedsnipe feeds mostly on vegetation growing as weeds in crops. Being this species a target of chemical control by Buenos Aires farmers, we recommend that more thorough diet and foraging studies should be carried out

Range extension of Tympanoctomys barrerae (Lawrence 1941) (Rodentia: Octodontidae) in Patagonia and southernmost record

We report the southernmost record for the octodontid rodent T. barrerae, which is also the second recording locality for this species in Patagonia. The new locality is placed in S Neuquén province (39º12´37.5"S, 70º3´32.9"W), extending the known range of the species about 150 km SW from the nearest previous record. Although T. barrerae is considered a highly specialized rodent of salar flats in Monte desert, the record reported here came from an arbustive rocky environment belonging to the Monte-Patagonia ecotone.Fil: Bernardis, Adela María. Universidad Nacional del Comahue; ArgentinaFil: Formoso, Anahí Elizabeth. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Nacional Patagónico; ArgentinaFil: Pardiñas, Ulises Francisco J.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Nacional Patagónico; Argentin

FOOD HABITS OF THE MAGELLANIC HORNED OWL (BUBO MAGELLANICUS) IN A COASTAL ISLAND OF PATAGONIA, ARGENTINA

Abstract ∙ The Magellanic Horned Owl (Bubo magellanicus) is one of the most common nocturnal raptors in Patagonia. The aim of this note was to analyze the food habits of this species in a small island from the Patagonian Atlantic coast. Four nesting areas and eight adults of Bubo magellanicus were found; 217 pellets plus disaggregated material were collected. We identified 2774 individual prey items. Insects were the most consumed prey (63.56%), followed by reptiles (13.73%), arachnids (10.92%), mammals (10.42%), and birds (1.37%). Our study show B. magellanicus feeding mainly on arthropods and introduced species, a fact that was not previously reported for this species in Patagonia. Resumen ∙ Hábitos alimenticios del Tucúquere (Bubo magellanicus) en una isla de Patagonia, Argentina El Tucúquere (Bubo magellanicus) es una de las rapaces nocturnas más comunes de la Patagonia. El objetivo de esta nota fue analizar los hábitos alimenticios de esta especie en una pequeña isla de la costa atlántica de la Patagonia. Se encontraron cuatro áreas de nidificación y ocho adultos de Bubo magellanicus y se recolectaron 217 egagrópilas además de material disgregado. Identificamos 2774 individuos presa. Los insectos fueron la presa más consumida (63,56%), seguidos por los reptiles (13,73%), los arácnidos (10,92%), los mamíferos (10,42%) y las aves (1,37%). La relevancia de este estudio reside en que B. magellanicus se alimenta principalmente de artrópodos y especies introducidas, hecho que no se había reportado previamente para esta especie en la Patagonia.

Diet of the Southern Caracara in a near-shore insular system in southern Patagonia, Argentina

The Southern Caracara (Caracara plancus) diet is little known in continental areas, but nothing is known about its diet in insular areas. We reported the food habits of Southern Caracaras in four near-shore islands located in Chubut province, southern Argentina. Between March 2013 and February 2017 we collected pellets (N = 306) on three islands (Leones, Tova and Galfrascoli) and disaggregated food remains (N = 146) on one island (Tovita). We measured the importance level of each food item by calculating the percentage of total food item (%TP) and percentage of occurrences (%OC). Southern caracaras consumed a variety of animal food including vertebrates and invertebrates. The most frequent food items in the pellets were the Magellanic penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus) and insects, whose importance level showed some variation among islands (penguins: %TP = 26.1–38.5%, OC = 83.7–95.3; insects: TP = 1.3–25.9, OC = 2.9–76.1). In the pellets collected in Tova island, we also found a great proportion of South American sea lion (Otaria flavescens; %TP = 22.9, %OC = 50.7). In the food remains, the most frequent animal food items were the Magellanic penguin (%TP = 28.8) and European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) (%TP = 44.7). Apparently, the large-sized animals (penguins, sea lions and adult rabbits) were taken as carrion. Because all these animal species are common on islands, we think that caracaras taken them opportunistically. In agreement with previous studies, our results show that the Southern Caracara on islands is also an opportunistic, scavenger and insect-eating species.Fil: Formoso, Anahí Elizabeth. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Centro Nacional Patagónico. Centro para el Estudio de Sistemas Marinos; ArgentinaFil: Agüero, Maria Laura. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Centro Nacional Patagónico. Centro para el Estudio de Sistemas Marinos; ArgentinaFil: Udrizar Sauthier, Daniel Edgardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia "San Juan Bosco"; Argentin

Range extension of Tympanoctomys barrerae (Lawrence, 1941) (Rodentia: Octodontidae) in Patagonia and southernmost record

We report the southernmost record for the octodontid rodent T. barrerae, which is also the second recording locality for this species in Patagonia. The new locality is placed in S Neuquén province, extending the known range of the species about 150 km SW from the nearest previous record. Although T. barrerae is considered a highly specialized rodent of salar flats in Monte desert, the record reported here came from an arbustive rocky environment belonging to the Monte- Patagonia ecotone

A new distributional record for Lyncodon patagonicus (Carnivora: Mustelidae), one of the smallest and least known mustelids of South America

AbstractThe Patagonian weasel (Lyncodon patagonicus) is a small, rare, and little known carnivore. Its distribution, which includes several fossil and historical records, spans western Argentina and southern Chile. According to recent studies, its populations are declining, affecting its conservation. In this paper we report a new locality of occurrence for the species based on a photographed individual from Lihue Calel National Park, La Pampa Province. The importance of this record is that it is located 173km southwest from the nearest previously known reference, and helps to fill a wide gap in the center of its range, where there were no previous records