Rodrigo F. Moro-Rios

Antipredator Behavior of Brown Howlers Attacked by Black Hawk-eagle in Southern Brazil

In field studies between 2002 and 2004 in southern Brazil, we recorded antipredatory behaviors (N=9) of brown howlers (Alouatta guariba clamitans) under attack by the black hawk-eagle (Spizaetus tyrannus). We observed 2 types of behavioral responses: the descent to the understory followed by the dispersion of the group and immobility and silence. Brown howlers displayed behaviors specific to evading aerial predators, which are similar to the ones in other Neotropical primates.

Os sete primeiros meses de um infante de Alouatta guariba (Humboldt) (Primates, Atelidae): interações e desenvolvimento dos padrões comportamentais

The development of the interactions of an infant primate with its mother and the other members of its social group plays a special role in the ethology and demography of the species, with consequences for their survive and their conservation. The objective of the present study is to investigate the development of an infant of Alouatta guariba (Humboldt, 1812) in the wild, its behavior and interactions during its first seven months of age, in a remnant of Araucaria Pine Forest in Parana State, Brazil. Using the method of instantaneous scanning with 5 min intervals, a total of 46 hours and 15 minutes of direct observation (555 individual records) showed that the infant behavioral patterns during its first four months were characterized by high dependency, which decreased progressively until the appearance of typically juvenile behaviors during the remaining 3 months. The first records of feeding on solid food, tail functionality and allomaternal care were also recorded and discussed. This work contributes to an understanding of the ontogenetic development of a poorly known aspect of this species, and thus for a more understanding of the genus Alouatta Lacepede, 1799.

Feeding habits of the crab-eating fox, Cerdocyon thous (Carnivora: Canidae), in a mosaic area with native and exotic vegetation in Southern Brazil

Cerdocyon thous (Linnaeus, 1766) is the most widespread neotropical canid, most commonly inhabiting forested areas. This animal is a generalist omnivore that is able to use environments disturbed by human activities. The aim of this study was to describe its diet through the stomach content analysis of 30 samples obtained from specimens that were run over in a mosaic composed by Araucaria Pine Forest, Semidecidual Seasonal Forest, natural grasslands, and exotic vegetation. The items were quantified by frequency of occurrence (F.O.) and percentage of occurrence (P.O.). A total of 64 food items were found among 171 occurrences. According to F.O. method, plant items corresponded to 93.3% of the occurrences, followed by animal items (86.7%) and human rejects (16.6%). Among plants, fruits accounted for 92.9% of the occurrences, followed by leaves (53.6%) and flowers (10.7%). Syagrus romanzoffianum (Cham.) Glassman, 1968 and the exotic Hovenia dulcis Thunberg were the most consumed fruits (30% each), and the most consumed leaves were Poaceae. Among preyed animals, the F.O. was 73.3% for invertebrates (mostly Orthoptera and Coleoptera, 36.7% each) and 63.3% for vertebrates (mostly mammals, 33.3%). Regarding the P.O. method, there was an overestimation of invertebrates (98.1%) due to the presence of ants and termites in the stomach of a single individual. In general, C. thous presented its usual diet. Its generalistic feeding habits can positively influence its survival in altered environments. This study also compares different methods for dietary analysis and discusses some opportunistic behaviors of C. thous, such as the consumption of exotic species and the use of silviculture areas as hunting sites.

Diet of brown-nosed coatis and crab-eating raccoons from a mosaic landscape with exotic plantations in southern Brazil

We described the diets of two procyonids, the brown-nosed coati Nasua nasua and the crab-eating raccoon Procyon cancrivorus, through analysis of stomach contents of road-killed specimens in southern Brazil. We compared them with previously published dietary information for another syntopic mesopredator, the crab-eating fox Cerdocyon thous. The landscape of the study area includes native grasslands, forests, exotic tree plantations, and other crops. Food items were represented by frequency of occurrence (FO) and relative volume (RV). Stomach contents of 23 coatis were analyzed. Animal and plant items were equally frequent, although the volume of plants was greater. Exotic plant species were consumed more than native plants. Among prey items, invertebrates were more important than vertebrates, mainly because of the frequency of coleopterans and annelids and the volume of necrophagous dipteran larvae. Five specimens of raccoons were analyzed, in which animal items had the highest FO and plant items had the highest RV. Both invertebrate and vertebrate prey had the same FO, although vertebrates had a higher RV. Our data suggest that these procyonids are opportunistic hypocarnivores, utilizing anthropic sources, with diet overlap. The coatis also overlapped their diet substantially with the foxes. The stomach-contents analysis revealed the importance of fruit pulp biomass, soft-bodied animals such as larvae, and also soil, which might indicate feeding habits such as scavenging and geophagy.

Social Structure of Alouatta Guariba Clamitans: A Group with a Dominant Female

Cleveland, J. and Snowdon, C. T. 1984. Social development during the first twenty weeks in the cotton-top tamarin (Saguinus o. oedipus). Anim. Behav. 32: 432–444. Dixson, A. F. 1980. Androgens and aggressive behavior in primates: A review. Aggressive Behav. 6: 37–67. French, J. A. and Schaffner, C. M. 1995. Social and developmental influences on urinary testosterone levels in male black tufted-ear marmosets (Callithrix kuhli). Am. J. Primatol. 36: 123. Ginther, A. J., Carlson, A. A., Ziegler, T. E. and Snowdon, C. T. 2002. Neonatal and pubertal development in males of a cooperatively breeding primate, the cotton-top tamarin (Saguinus oedipus oedipus). Biol. Reprod. 66: 282–290. Heymann, E. W. 1995. Sleeping habits of tamarins, Saguinus mystax and Saguinus fuscicollis (Mammalia; Primates; Callitrichidae), in north-eastern Peru. J. Zool., Lond. 237: 211–226. Huck, M., Löttker, P., Böhle, U.-R. and Heymann, E. W. 2005a. Paternity and kinship patterns in polyandrous moustached tamarins (Saguinus mystax). Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 127: 449–464. Huck, M., Löttker, P., Heymann, E. W. and Heistermann, M. 2005b. Characterization and social correlates of fecal testosterone and cortisol excretion in wild Saguinus mystax. Int. J. Primatol. 26: 159–179. Löttker, P., Huck, M. and Heymann, E. W. 2004. Group composition and demographic events in wild moustached tamarins (Saguinus mystax). Am. J. Primatol. 64: 425–249. Martin, P. and Bateson, P. 1993. Measuring Behaviour: An Introductory Guide. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. Oversluijs Vásquez, M. R. and Heymann, E. W. 2001. Crested eagle (Morphnus guianensis) predation on infant tamarins (Saguinus mystax and Saguinus fuscicollis, Callitrichinae). Folia Primatol. 72: 301–303. Pereira, M. E. and Leigh, S. R. 2003. Modes of primate development. In: Primate Life Histories and Socioecology, P. M. Kappeler and M. E. Pereira (eds.), pp.149–176. The University of Chicago Press, Chicago. Plant, T. M. 1988. Puberty in primates. In: The Physiology of Reproduction, E. Knobil, J. D. Neill and G. S. Greenwald (eds.), pp.1763–1788. Raven Press, New York. Ross, C. and MacLarnon, A. 2000. The evolution of non-maternal care in anthropoid primates: A test of the hypotheses. Folia Primatol. 71: 93–113. Soini, P. and Soini, M. 1990. Distribución geográfica y ecológia poblacional de Saguinus mystax. In: La Primatología en el Perú: Investigaciones Primatológicas (1973–1985), N. E. Castro-Rodríguez (ed.), pp.272–313. Imprenta Propaceb, Lima. Ventura, R. and Buchanan-Smith, H. M. 2003. Physical environmental effects on infant care and development in captive Callithrix jacchus. Int. J. Primatol. 24: 399–413. Wickings, E. J., Marshall, G. R. and Nieschlag, E. 1986. Endocrine regulation of male reproduction. In: Comparative Primate Biology, W. R. Dukelow and J. Erwin (eds.), pp.149–170. Alan R. Liss, New York. SOCIAL STRUCTURE OF ALOUATTA GUARIBA CLAMITANS: A GROUP WITH A DOMINANT FEMALE

The direct observational method and possibilities for Neotropical Carnivores: an invitation for the rescue of a classical method spread over the Primatology

© 2009 Sociedade Brasileira de Zoologia | www.sbzoologia.org.br | All rights reserved. Primates and carnivores belong to phylogenetically distant mammal orders (MURPHY et al. 2001). Overall, carnivores have developed some very particular and conservative characteristics during the process of evolution, whereas primates have held to a more plesiomorphic bauplan that emphasizes adaptability over adaptation (SIMPSON 1980). Such differences in the history of each group have resulted in remarkable anatomical, ecological, and behavioral differences. The most commonly studied interactions between primates and carnivores are between predator and prey (e.g., TREVES 1999, ZUBERBÜHLER & JENNY 2002). While some interactions are of a competitive nature (e.g., ROSE et al. 2003, TREVES & PALMQVIST 2007), mutual interactions are rare (e.g., SCHLEIDT & SHALTER 2003, HAUGAASEN & PERES 2008). In hunting interactions, primates are usually the prey, though in some cases both humans (e.g., JORGENSON & REDFORD 1993) and non-human primates (e.g., ROSE et al. 2003) predate upon carnivores. Hunting by and competition from carnivores have significantly contributed to molding some characteristics of primate biology, including our hominid ancestors (TREVES 1999, TREVES & PALMQVIST 2007). Currently, the conflict between modern humans and carnivores that attack domestic animals results in strong pressure on predator populations (see TREVES & KARANTH 2003, SHIVIK 2006). Despite the conflict of interests inherent to their interactions, and also because of the differences in their evolutionary biology, both groups present several similarities from a scientific point of view. Previous studies have compared primates and carnivores, especially with regards to some aspects of their socioecology (e.g., WRANGHAM et al. 1993, KAYS & GITTLEMAN 2001, SMITH et al. 2008). Some investigators have treated infanticidal behavior (e.g., PARMIGIANI & VOM SAAL 1994), hunting behavior (e.g., BOESCH & BOESCH 1989), and even the convergent morphology between the two groups (e.g., PLAVCAN & RUFF 2008). In a high proportion of such investigations, especially on behavior, studies with primates are used as a model and basis for comparison. The conceptual and theoretical background to understand this line of research in the carnivores stems from such work. However, irrespective of the taxonomic group, studies of behavior and especially socioecology strongly depend upon direct observation of the animals in the wild. In this case, common objectives require methods in common. For primates, the direct-observation study method, which has been used for a broad range of organisms since the natural world began to be scientifically studied, is widespread. For carnivores, direct observation has been more often employed in the Palaeotropic and Nearctic regions, and studies using direct observation in the Neotropical region are very rare, in spite of the existing possibilities. Indeed, it is exactly in this region that the behavior, socioecology, and certain other aspects of the biology of carnivores are poorly understood. The aim of the present study is therefore to address this gap in the Neotropics. The advantage of primates and the problem of carnivores in the Neotropics It has been possible to study the ecology and behavior of primates by following and observing them directly in several locations in South and Central America, because they are conspicuous, and also because of their daily habits and the relative ease with which they become habituated to the observer (the same is true for the Old World primates). Consequently, many scientific questions about this order could be answered. The Neotropical primates constitute a valuable heritage of biodiversity, especially in conservation and biomedical investigations (COIMBRA-FILHO 2004). They are good objects of study to understand forest environments, and are essential components of conservation strategies (RYLANDS et al. 1997, SECHREST et al. 2002). Many Neotropical primates were the main elements in many successful and internationally recognized conservation programs. In Brazil, the history of conservation is thoroughly intertwined with the history of primatology (COIMBRAFILHO 2004, MITTERMEIER et al. 2005). The predominant forest physiognomy in the Neotropical Region and the nocturnal and cathemeral habits of many animals, including many carnivores, pose difficulties to animal direct observation in the wild for long periods of time. Compared with the primates, the Neotropical carnivores are neither well studied nor understood (see CRAWSHAW 2006, OLIVEIRA 2006). Despite the possibilities for data collection through direct observation, some of their habits (feeding, use of space, and activity patterns) and population numbers have been mostly investigated using indirect methods, such as feces analysis, footprint identification, radio telemetry, and photographic trigger systems (camera traps). The lack of behavioral and socio-ecological studies, which are only possible through direct observation, creates an obstacle to a full understanding of the biology of these animals. This gap creates problems when trying to devise conservation actions in situ or ex situ, especially for sensitive animals at the top of the food chain (for the importance of behavioral studies in conservation biology, see KNIGHT 2001, ANGELONI et al. 2008). Much basic but essential information about the great majority of Neotropical carnivores still needs to be obtained, OPINION

First record of Histiotus montanus (Philippi & Landbeck) from Paraná State, Brazil (Chiroptera, Vespertilionidae)

The first occurrence of Histiotus montanus (Philippi & Landbeck, 1861) from Parana State is reported. An adult male was caught with mist net in the (in attic building) located at natural field remnant of Palmas Municipality, Southern Parana. Morphological and some biological aspects of this species are showed too.

Formas Não Usuais para a Obtenção de Água por Alouatta guariba clamitans em Ambiente de Floresta com Araucária no Sul do Brasil

O bugio-ruivo (Alouatta guariba clamitans) é endêmico da Floresta Atlântica sensu lato, e encontra-se distribuído desde o sul do Rio Doce no Espírito Santo até o Rio Grande do Sul e norte da Argentina, ocupando várias fisionomias florestais como a Floresta Atlântica sensu strictu, a Floresta com Araucária e a Floresta Estacional Semidecidual (von Ihering, 1914; Cabrera, 1957; Hirsch et al., 1991; Gregorin, no prelo). Observações do comportamento de beber água por parte dos bugios (gênero Alouatta) são incomuns em animais de vida livre (Carpenter, 1934; Glander, 1978; Terborgh, 1983; Neville et al., 1988; Bonvicino, 1989; Bicca-Marques, 1992; Serio-Silva e Ricco-Gray, 2000; Almeida-Silva, 2004). Acredita-se que estes animais obtenham recursos hídricos diretamente de seu alimento, principalmente frutos e folhas novas (Glander, 1978; Milton, 1980; Bicca-Marques, 1992, 2003; Steinmetz, 2001). O objetivo deste trabalho foi registrar e descrever as diferentes formas observadas do comportamento de beber água em A. g. clamitans, fornecendo então informações sobre particularidades do comportamento do bugio-ruivo.

Relações Sociais, Emigração e Fissão de um Grupo de Alouatta Guariba Clamitans em um Remanescente de Floresta Ombrófila Mista

Abstract Although howlers devote a small proportion of their time to socializing, social behaviors play an important role in the survival and reproduction of all individuals. The aim of this work was to analyze the spacing and social interactions among individuals of a group of Alouatta guariba clamitans with known relatedness for almost all individuals. Field data were gathered through 140 h of observation carried out over two years. Social interactions were just 1,4% of all activity. Infant play was the most frequent interaction and usually involved related immature individuals. Grooming was performed mainly by adult females over their offspring. Agonism and mating were rarely observed. The emigration of a juvenile and group fission were also reported. Adult females and its offspring exhibited great proximity. It seems that kinship may have an important role in the social structure of some howler groups.

Obtenção de água por um grupo de Alouatta clamitans (Primates: Atelidae), em Floresta com Araucária: variações sazonais, sexo-etárias e circadianas

Direct observations on the drinking behavior of species of Alouatta Lacepede, 1799 are uncommon among wild animals. Seasonal fluctuations were noticed in the frequency of water intake, which were related to the availability of different alimentary items in the environment. The aim of this study was to quantify the records of water intake by a group of Alouatta clamitans Cabrera, 1940, as well as to analyze its seasonal, circadian and sex-age variations. Water intake was related to feeding periods during the day. There was correlation between water intake and ingestion of seeds. The sex-age analysis demonstrated that females drank more water than infants. We suggest that water sources might be important factors for the configuration of the groups daily course. Water intake was directly related to the quantity of secondary compounds from ingested seeds. Metabolic requirements inherent to lactation possibly stimulated adult females to drink larger amounts of water. Though uncommon, water consumption must be considered a factor that plays an important role, since it makes possible the howler monkeys survival under certain environmental conditions.