Nuevos registros de distribución del serafín del platanar Cyclopes didactylus (Pilosa, Cyclopedidae) en el nordeste costero de Brasil

The silky anteater Cyclopes didactylus is one of the least studied xenarthrans. Its range extends from tropical Mexico south into Central and South America. The aim of this study was to determine the range of a historically isolated population of C. didactylus in coastal northeastern Brazil. Data on sightings, donations, and confiscations of C. didactylus were obtained from regional offices of the Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e Recursos Renováveis (IBAMA). The silky anteater's area of distribution in the northeastern Atlantic forest seems to be larger than previously reported and includes the states of Rio Grande do Norte, Paraíba, Pernambuco, and Alagoas.Cyclopes didactylus es uno de los xenartros menos estudiados. Su distribución abarca zonas tropicales de México, Centroamérica y Sudamérica. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar la extensión de una población de C. didactylus aislada históricamente en la costa noreste de Brasil. Se obtuvo información sobre avistamientos, donaciones y decomisos de C. didactylus de las oficinas regionales del Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e Recursos Renováveis (IBAMA). El área de distribución del serafín del platanar en la selva atlántica nordestina parece ser más amplia de lo conocido e incluye los estados de Rio Grande do Norte, Paraíba, Pernambuco y Alagoas.Fil: Miranda, Flávia. Wildlife Conservation Society; BrasilFil: Superina, Mariella. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Medicina y Biología Experimental de Cuyo; Argentin

Natural history of the pichi (Zaedyus pichiy) in Mendoza Province, Argentina

The pichi Zaedyus pichiy (Xenarthra, Dasypodidae) is a poorly known, diurnal armadillo inhabiting arid and semi-arid regions of Argentina and Chile that has endured substantial population declines. My objective was to elucidate different aspects of the natural history of Z. pichiy as a first step towards establishing a conservation plan. Wild and captive pichis were studied. Body temperature of wild pichis averaged 35.2±1.2 °C and was highly variable (range 32.2 – 38.3 °C). Temperature measurements of semi-captive males showed that pichis can survive energetically challenging periods by entering hibernation or daily torpor. Stomach contents of poached animals revealed that pichis feed predominantly on insects but also ingest plant material, vertebrates and arachnids. This opportunistic, omnivorous feeding strategy allows them to thrive where food type and availability vary seasonally. The reproductive cycle of pichis was studied by means of histological and fecal hormone analyses. Pichis are seasonal breeders that produce one yearly litter of 1 to 2 offspring, and the initiator of breeding season seems to be an increase in daylength. The absence of regular estrous cycles and corpora lutea in non-pregnant females, and immediate mating attempts after pairing, all suggest that pichis are induced ovulators. Clinical examinations and hematological, serological and coproparasitological analyses of free-ranging pichis, and necropsies and histological examinations of confiscated pichis and roadkills, indicate that the populations are currently in good health. While parasites were often found, no severe pathologies were observed. Infections with potentially zoonotic diseases were rare: only a few pichis were seropositive for Trypanosoma cruzi, none had antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii, and none of the histologically examined individuals presented lesions attributable to these pathogens. Elevated ambient humidity levels often caused moist dermatitis with epidermal detachment in captive pichis. Poaching is currently considered to have a much higher negative impact on the wild populations than disease epidemics. Mortality due to heavy poaching activity may be difficult, if not impossible, to compensate by the current birth rates. This preliminary database on the natural history and reproduction of pichis will assist efforts to conserve this little-known species of armadillo

Hematology and serum chemistry values in captive and wild pichis, Zaedyus pichiy (Mammalia, Dasypodidae)

As part of an ongoing study on the health status of pichis, Zaedyus pichiy (Mammalia, Dasypodidae), blood was collected under manual restraint from 72 free-ranging pichis captured in Mendoza Province, Argentina, between November 2001 and December 2006, and from 22 captive-kept pichis in January 2007. Reference values were established for hematology and serum chemistry. Pichis had lower leukocyte counts and higher mean corpuscular volumes than most other mammals. Blood values were similar for captive and wild pichis, and only a few significant differences were found among genders or age classes.Fil: Superina, Mariella. Department Of Biological Sciences; Estados Unidos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Medicina y Biología Experimental de Cuyo; ArgentinaFil: Mera y Sierra, Roberto. Universidad "Juan Agustín Maza". Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Ambientales; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas; Argentin

Health evaluation of free-ranging and captive pichis (Zaedyus Pichiy; Mammalia, Dasypodidae), in Mendoza province, Argentina

The health of free-ranging and captive pichis (Zaedyus pichiy) was assessed in Mendoza Province, Argentina, between November 2001 and December 2006. Postmortem examinations of 150 confiscated and vehicle-killed pichis and clinical examinations of 139 wild-caught individuals suggest that the wild populations are currently in good health. Lesions and scars were observed in a large proportion of wild-caught pichis. The most common lesions were associated with parasitism or parasite larva migration. Sarcocystis cysts were relatively common in the skeletal muscle, and Besnoitia cysts were observed in the lungs of 24 evaluated animals. Elevated ambient humidity levels often caused moist dermatitis with epidermal detachment in captive pichis. This report constitutes the first health evaluation of free-ranging and captive Z. pichiy. It will be a starting point for future health studies and will be beneficial for the captive management of this species.Fil: Superina, Mariella. University Of New Orleans; Estados Unidos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Medicina y Biología Experimental de Cuyo; ArgentinaFil: Garner, Michael M.. Northwest Zoopath; Estados UnidosFil: Aguilar, Roberto F.. Massey University; Nueva Zeland

Zaedyus pichiy (Cingulata: Dasypodidae)

Zaedyus pichiy (Desmarest, 1804) is a small armadillo commonly known as pichi. Like all armadillos, it bears a carapace of ossified dermal scutes covered by epidermal scales, but it is the only species that bears marginal scutes with sharply pointed apices. This diurnal, semifossorial species inhabits xeric shrublands and grasslands on sandy soils from central Argentina and Chile south to the Straits of Magellan. Z. pichiy has opportunistic omnivorous food habits and is the only xenarthran known to enter hibernation. It is listed as "Near Threatened" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources; it is mainly threatened by humans who hunt it for food or sport.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

Ancestros

Fil: Superina, Mariella. Laboratorio de Endocrinología de la Fauna Silvestre. Instituto de Medicina y Biología Experimental de Cuyo. Centro Científico Tecnológico. Mendoza; ArgentinaFil: Abba, Agustín Manuel. División Zoología Vertebrados. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Universidad Nacional de La Plata; Argentin

Food Habits of Wild Silky Anteaters ( Cyclopes didactylus ) of São Luis do Maranhão, Brazil

None of the four extant anteater species is currently considered to be threatened with extinction (IUCN, 2007; Aguiar and Fonseca, 2008). However, the destruction and fragmentation of their habitat is advancing swiftly throughout their common distribution, and may already have caused local extinctions (Fonseca and Aguiar, 2004; Fallabrino and Castiñeira, 2006). Similarly, fragmentation may expose wild populations to new parasites and infectious diseases, while also increasing the risk of transmission between human and animal populations (Aguirre et al., 2002).Fil: Miranda, Flávia. No especifica;Fil: Veloso, Roberto. No especifica;Fil: Superina, Mariella. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Medicina y Biología Experimental de Cuyo; ArgentinaFil: Zara, Fernando José. No especifica

Zaedyus pichiy (Cingulata: Dasypodidae)

Fil: Superina, Mariella. Instituto de Medicina y Biología Experimental de Cuyo. CCT. Mendoza; ArgentinaFil: Abba, Agustín Manuel. División Zoología Vertebrados. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Universidad Nacional de La Plata; Argentin

Connecting research, management, education and policy for the conservation of armadillos in the Orinoco Llanos of Colombia

Successful conservation actions require strategies that combine research, policy formulation and enforcement, practical interventions and education. Here we review the Armadillo Conservation Programme, which was initiated in 2012 as a pioneering multidisciplinary programme for the conservation and management of five armadillo species in the Orinoco Llanos of Colombia. It is led by a multi-institutional alliance that ensures active participation of stakeholders during all stages of the programme. Six main threats affecting armadillo populations in the Llanos were identified, and these were addressed in the first joint action plan of two Colombian environmental authorities. Scientific research facilitated an increase in the knowledge available about the armadillos of the Llanos, and the recategorization of the northern long-nosed armadillo Dasypus sabanicola on the IUCN Red List. Threat evaluation and mitigation included the assessment of illegal bushmeat trade and consumption in local restaurants and the establishment of a certification label for restaurants that do not sell wild meat. Multiple strategies were used to raise awareness about armadillos and position them as flagship species for the Llanos, including education programmes in schools, travelling exhibitions, talks at universities, and the publication of several books. The local communities were actively involved through a network of private reserves committed to the conservation of armadillos, in which armadillos are protected from poaching and monitored by farmers. Breeding and rehabilitation facilities were established that can host confiscated armadillos and raise awareness among the local communities. This case study shows that conservation programmes targeted at inconspicuous and poorly known species can be successful.Fil: Superina, Mariella. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Medicina y Biología Experimental de Cuyo; ArgentinaFil: Cortés Duarte, Alexandra. Fundación Omacha; ColombiaFil: Trujillo, Fernando. Fundación Omacha; Colombi

First records of giant armadillo (Priodontes maximus Kerr, 1792) offspring in Colombia

 El ocarro u armadillo gigante (Priodontes maximus) es una especie rara, críptica y poco estudiada de América del Sur, que en Colombia se distribuye en la Orinoquia y Amazonia. La historia natural del ocarro es prácticamente desconocida y son muy escasos los datos de esta especie en vida silvestre. En esta comunicación breve se describen tres registros de hembras con cría de ocarro obtenidos a través de trampas cámara en un bosque ripario de Puerto Gaitán (Meta-Colombia) y se aportan observaciones sobre el comportamiento parental y de las crías.The giant armadillo (Priodontes maximus) is a rare, poorly studied species endemic to South America. In Colombia it occurs in the Orinoco and Amazon regions. The natural history of the giant armadillo is still poorly known, and studies on wild individuals are scarce. Here we document three records of giant armadillo offspring obtained through camera traps in a riparian forest in Puerto Gaitán (Meta-Colombia). We also describe observations on parental and offspring behavior.Fil: Aya Cuero, Carlos. Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas; ColombiaFil: Superina, Mariella. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Medicina y Biología Experimental de Cuyo; ArgentinaFil: Rodríguez Bolaños, Aelardo. Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas; Colombi