Sônia A. Talamoni

Serologic evidence of Leishmania infection in free-ranging wild and domestic canids around a Brazilian National Park

Transmission of disease between wildlife, domestic animals, and humans is of great concern to conservation issues and public health. Here we report on the prevalence of anti-Leishmania sp. antibodies in 21 wild canids (7 Chrysocyon brachyurus, 12 Cerdocyon thous, and 2 Lycalopex vetulus) and 74 free domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) sampled around the Serra do Cipó National Park. In dogs, the apparent prevalence was 8.1% and in wild canids it was 19% (2 crab-eating foxes, C. thous, and 2 maned wolves, C. brachyurus). Management of the domestic dog population with evaluation of incidence changes in humans and wildlife, and enlightenment on the role of wild reservoirs are essential issues for future action and research.

Diet adjustments of maned wolves, Chrysocyon brachyurus (Illiger) (Mammalia, Canidae), subjected to supplemental feeding in a private natural reserve, Southeastern Brazil

From the analysis of 230 scats, the diet of the maned wolves, Chrysocyon brachyurus (Illiger, 1815), was determined in a private natural reserve in southeastern Brazil in which ecotourism activities are developed and the animals are deliberately fed bovine meat. A total of 569 occurrences of food items were recorded, of which 56.8% were of animal origin and 29.1% of vegetal origin. Rodents, insects and birds added up to 35.8% of the occurrences, yet accounted for 68.5% of the total number of preys (277). Insects, however, had practically no importance (0.1%) in the total estimated biomass consumed. Even though the fruit Solanum lycocarpum St.-Hil. is a common food item in the diet of the maned wolf, its occurrence in the diet at the Serra do Caraca Reserve was insignificant, accounting for only 4.8% of the total number of food item occurrences and 3.4% of the total estimated biomass consumption. Food items of anthropic origin and inorganic items (e.g., plastic) represented 14.1% of all occurrences, which shows that the animals are used to the presence of humans. Seasonal variations in consumption were found for S. lycocarpum (c2 = 10,09; p < 0,001), for other fruits (c2 = 19,73; p < 0,001), and for reptiles (c2 = 15,56; p < 0,001), all of which were more frequently eaten during the dry months. There was a significant correlation between the availability of small mammals and their consumption by the maned wolves (rs = 0.59; p = 0.041), yet the same was not observed for the fruits of S. lycocarpum (rs = 0,101; p = 0,754). Our findings stress the need for a better understanding of the effects of additional foods on the natural feeding habits of the maned wolf.

Use of space by neotropical marsupial Didelphis albiventris (Didelphimorphia: Didelphidae) in an urban forest fragment

Neste estudo foi analisada uma populacao do marsupial neotropical Didelphis albiventris (Lund, 1840), em um fragmento florestal urbano, e foram analisados aspectos da estrutura da populacao, e a influencia do sexo e da idade em duas variaveis relativas ao uso do habitat - Area de Vida Diaria (MCP) e Intensidade de Uso do Habitat (UI), obtidas com a tecnica do carretel de rastreamento. Foram estudados 49 individuos marcados, dos quais 20 eram machos e 29 eram femeas. Dos animais adultos, nao foi encontrado qualquer dimorfismo sexual. De 40 individuos rastreados com carretel (16 machos, 24 femeas), diferencas significativas no MCP foram encontradas, sendo que os individuos adultos apresentaram tamanhos medios maiores que os sub-adultos. Quanto a UI, diferencas significativas foram observadas tambem relacionadas a idade. Nao foram encontradas diferencas entre sexos com relacao ao MCP e IU. Alem dos fatores analisados, as variaveis relativas ao uso do habitat possivelmente sao influenciadas por outros fatores, especialmente aqueles relacionados ao estado de conservacao do fragmento.

Feeding habit of the Brazilian tapir, Tapirus terrestris (Perissodactyla: Tapiridae) in a vegetation transition zone in south-eastern Brazil.

Tapirs are considered generalist herbivores and the differences in the proportions of dietary items are often attributed to differences in the habitats where individuals live. This study characterized the feeding habit of Tapirus terrestris (Linnaeus, 1758) in a nature reserve in south-eastern Brazil, located in a region considered a transition zone between the Cerrado (Brazilian savanna) and the Atlantic Forest biomes. Fecal samples from T. terrestris individuals were collected monthly at six sampling areas that encompassed a total of 242.22 ha. There were 147 fresh samples found (77 during the dry season and 70 during the wet season). The diet of the tapirs in this reserve was characterized by the prevalent browsing on leaves and stems. There was a low frequency of fruit seeds in the diet of the tapirs during both the wet and dry seasons. However, in the dry season a higher percentage of samples containing seeds was observed. Fruits of Rubiaceae, Solanaceae, and Annonaceae were most consumed during the dry season. Most of the fruit seeds found presented small mean diameter (3.7-8.4 mm) and most of the fruits were capsules and dry fruits. The characteristics of the fruits consumed by the tapirs indicate that they forage in the lower forest stratum and upon species from Cerrado. Additionally, Psidium myrtoides O. Berg. clusters found in the study site suggest that the tapirs may be acting as dispersal agents of this species.

Seasonal Reproduction of Yellowish Myotis, Myotis levis (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae), from a Neotropical Highland

With a nearly global distribution the vespertilionid bat Myotis represents one of the most exceptional examples of adaptive radiation among mammals. We investigated the reproductive activity of the vespertilionid bat yellowish myotis, Myotis levis, from a highland area in Southeastern Brazil. The data were obtained through histological analyses of the male and female genital systems from February 2010 to May 2011. The testes of the adult yellowish myotis showed seasonal morphological characteristics which were categorized in the following stages: rest, maturing, mature, and mating. Rest and maturing males were recorded throughout the rainy season (October‐March). In the rest stage no spermatogenesis was observed and the epididymal duct was devoid of spermatozoa. Maturing individuals had started spermatogenesis and few spermatozoa were found in the epididymal duct. Mature males were found toward the end (February‐March) of the rainy season, when full spermatogenic activity was recorded and spermatozoa were packed in the epididymal duct. Although not recorded, mating probably occurred in the middle of the dry season (April–September) when the cauda epididymis was enlarged and packed with sperm. The spermatozoa remained stored in the cauda epididymis for at least three months when the testes entered into regression. The ovaries showed all types of ovarian follicles throughout the study period except mature follicles which were registered only in July (mid‐dry season). Lactating females were captured in the beginning of the rainy season. The seasonal reproductive characteristics of the yellowish myotis from this Neotropical highland area were similar those of epididymal sperm‐storing temperate vespertilionids. J. Morphol. 274:1230–1238, 2013.

Nests of the Brazilian squirrel Sciurus ingrami Thomas (Rodentia, Sciuridae)

Descriptions of Sciurus ingrami Thomas, 1901 nests are not available in the literature. In this study, a survey was made of the distribution of S. ingrami nests in a woodlot located near to the headquarters of the Serra do Caraca Reserve, in state of Minas Gerais, where there is a high concentration of Syagrus romanzoffiana (Chamisso) Glassman palm tree, among other exotic tree species. The nest-building behaviour and the nest characteristics, such as height from the ground, total circumference, diameter of the entrance, and the position of the nest in the tree - in the crown, along the trunk or in a side branch, were described.

Foraging behaviour of the Brazilian squirrelSciurus aestuans (Rodentia, Sciuridae)

We describe the foraging behaviour of the Brazilian squirrelSciurus aestuans Linnaeus, 1776 in a natural free-living population, in an area with a high concentration of palm fruitsSyagrus romanzoffiana (Chamisso) Glassman. Our objective was to investigate if the abundance ofS. romanzoffiana fruits, an important food item for squirrels, temporally influenced the foraging behaviour of this population. The observations were carried out over an eight-month (April–November 2001) period. Fruiting phenology ofS. romanzoffiana was also monitored. The most consumed food item for this period was the fruit ofS. romanzoffiana (70%), followed by foods of human origin (14%). The percentage of time spent feeding increased in September, and the time spent travelling declined in September, October and November, when females were observed showing evidence of reproductive activity. At the same timeS. romanzoffiana fruits become available. The consumption of human items illustrates the opportunistic feeding habit of these squirrels, but variations in foraging behaviour detected probably were more strongly related to availability ofS. romanzoffiana fruits.

Captura, imobilização e parâmetros clínicos e morfológicos de canídeos silvestres (Carnivora, Mammalia) do Cerrado brasileiro

Este artigo apresenta um metodo simples, seguro e eficiente para a captura e imobilizacao quimica de tres especies de canideos silvestres da regiao do Parque Nacional da Serra do Cipo, no bioma Cerrado do Sudeste brasileiro. Medidas morfologicas e dados de anestesia obtidos durante as capturas tambem sao descritos. Tais dados sao essenciais devido a necessidade de pesquisas invasivas para programas de monitoramento, analises de casos clinicos, e investigacoes ecologicas ou epidemiologicas em populacoes cativas ou de vida livre de canideos neotropicais.

New data on the life history and occurrence of spiny ratsTrinomys moojeni (Rodentia: Echimyidae), in southeastern Brazil

We present new data on the life history and a new locality of occurrence ofTrinomys moojeni (Pessôaet al., 1992). The study was conducted in a region considered to be a transition zone between the Cerrado and the Atlantic Forest biomes in Minas Gérais, Brazil. Animals were sampled by the capturemark-recapture (CMR) methods between January 2001 and January 2002. Fifteen males and 34 females were captured and a total of 29 individuals were studied. Seasonal variation in the numbers ofT. moojeni males and females captured was observed; no sexual dimorphism was recorded. There was no evidence for the existence of a defined mating season. During the year, females remained in the vicinity of the study area while males dispersed over longer distances as evidenced by the fewer number of males captured. This suggests that females are more territorial.

Testis Morphometry and Stages of the Seminiferous Epithelium Cycle in an Epididymal Sperm‐storing Neotropical Vespertilionid, Myotis levis (Chiroptera)

Yellowish myotis, Myotis levis, is a seasonal, epididymal sperm‐storing Neotropical vespertilionid. In the dry season, males show simultaneous testis regression and sperm storage in cauda epididymis, enabling them to mate during this season. In this study, we investigated seasonal variations in body mass, diameter and height of seminiferous tubules and nuclei of Leydig cells in a population of southeastern Brazil. We also determined the frequencies of the stages of the seminiferous epithelium cycle (SEC) of mature individuals of this population. Body mass and diameter of Leydig cell nuclei showed no significant differences between dry and rainy seasons and stages of annual reproductive cycle; however, all other morphometric parameters varied significantly. The relative cumulative frequency of pre‐meiotic stages of the SEC (1–3) was 51%, of meiotic stage (4) was 2% and of post‐meiotic stages (5–8) was 47%. We confirmed that the yellowish myotis presents seasonal sperm production as revealed by testis regression and epididymal sperm storage during the dry season.