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Population density is a key parameter in conservation, but remains a challenging metric to obtain for rare and cryptic species. We designed a camera trap array targeting the elusive giant armadillo (Priodontes maximus), estimated densities using spatially explicit capture-recapture models, and compared these with estimates from a previous eight-year telemetry study in the area. Density from the six-month camera trap survey (7.69 individuals/100km2) is nearly identical to that from the intensive telemetry study (7.65 ind./100 km2). We recommend the use of systematic camera trap arrays, which are much less expensive and time consuming, to obtain insights on the population status of elusive species across the Neotropics and inform conservation. Resumo A densidade de populações é um parâmetro chave em conservação e ecologia, mas é uma métrica difícil de se obter para espécies raras e de hábitos crípticos. Nós desenhamos uma matriz de armadilhas fotográficas para capturar o elusivo tatu canastra (Priodontes maximus), estimamos sua densidade usando modelos de captura e recaptura espacialmente explícitos, e comparamos essa estimativa com àquela obtida em um estudo anterior de oito anos de telemetria realizado na mesma área. A densidade obtida através do levantamento por armadilhas fotográficas com duração de seis meses (7.69 indivíduos/100km2) é praticamente idêntica àquela obtida no estudo intensivo de telemetria (7.65 ind./100 km2). Nós recomendamos o uso de matrizes sistematizadas de armadilhas fotográficas, que possuem um menor custo financeiro e em termos de mão de obra, ao longo da região Neotropical para obter conhecimento sobre o status populacional de espécies elusivas e informar medidas de conservação.

The giant armadillo (Priodontes maximus) is the largest living armadillo and is classified as Vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Little is known about the species biology and especially its reproduction. However, data such as the age at sexual maturity are employed for estimation of a species generation length, which is an important parameter for extinction risk assessment. Thus, the aim of this study is to estimate the age at sexual maturity for male P. maximus in the wild and to predict generation length for this species. During a long-term in situ study, eight male P. maximus were captured for reproductive evaluation considering both morphometric characteristics (e.g. body, penis and testes dimensions), and data on sperm production (assessed by electroejaculation). Based on observations of this study, it is estimated that male P. maximus reach sexual maturity at an age of 6.5–8 years. This is at least 5.5–7 years later than previously published. Consequently, generation length for P. maximus results in 11 years when applying standard formula including age at sexual maturity in males and an estimate of age at last reproduction of 20 years. However, the generation length is probably underestimated here as sexual maturity in females and age at last reproduction could be later than estimates used. Even these conservative estimates result in noticeable change for the timeframe used in extinction risk assessments for this species as it is 33 instead of 21 years. Thus, results from this study might affect the classification status of P. maximus particularly for regional assessments.

The giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla), the largest representative of the xenarthrans, is listed as Vulnerable-IUCN. Their unique anatomy and physiological characteristics, such as relatively low basal metabolic rates, make xenarthrans challenging to anesthetize and equip with tracking devices. This study evaluates and describes physical capture and chemical immobilization protocols for field conditions that enable the harnessing of free-ranging giant anteaters. A total of 51 wild giant anteaters were physically captured, and chemical immobilization was performed applying the combination protocol (BDM), butorphanol tartrate, detomidine hydrochloride, and midazolam hydrochloride, each at 0.1 mg/kg. Whenever extra time was necessary, supplementary doses of BDM were used (0.03 mg/kg of butorphanol, 0.03 mg/kg of detomidine, and 0.03 mg/kg of midazolam). Vital signs were monitored during anesthesia every 10 min. All individuals received the antagonist combination NYF: naloxone hydrochloride (0.02 mg/kg), yohimbine hydrochloride (0.125 mg/kg), and flumazenil (0.01 mg/kg). Average rectal temperature was 34.5 ± 2.52 °C, heart rate/min 43.47 ± 7.39, respiratory rate 8.49 ± 2.79, and oxygen saturation values (SpO2%) 90.1 ± 4.38. BDM protocol was considered satisfactory and provided enough time to complete the procedures. The total chemical immobilization time was 85.5 ± 16.8 min. This protocol provided rapid, smooth inductions, and a wide margin of safety. Recovery time varied according administration method lasting 2.55 ± 1.33 to 12 ± 5.39 min intravenous or intramuscular, respectively. Physical capture method and the chemical immobilization protocol were considered efficient, safe, highly feasible, and can be completely antagonized, promoting smooth and rapid recoveries.

The giant armadillo (Priodontes maximus) is the largest living armadillo. This naturally rare and poorly known species is endemic to South America and classified as “Vulnerable” by the IUCN. Here we explored aspects of the spatial ecology of P. maximus in Midwestern Brazil to gain insights on its ecology and biology to support conservation efforts. In 8 years, we identified 50 individuals of P. maximus and monitored 23 of them using telemetry methods. To characterize site fidelity and home range, we fitted individual continuous-time movement models and estimated Autocorrelated Kernel Density Estimates. We built a Structural Equation Model to evaluate how home-range area and daily displacement are related to each other, to sampling effort, and to individual characteristics. We estimated home-range overlap between pairs of different sexes using a bias-corrected Bhattacharyya coefficient. Finally, we formulated a canonical density estimation formula to characterize minimum population density. We gathered a total of 12,168 locations of P. maximus. The best-fitted movement models indicated site fidelity for all individuals and a median adult home-range area of 2,518 ha. Median adult daily displacement was 1,651 m. Home-range area scales positively with daily displacement and daily displacement scales positively with body mass. Median home-range overlap between pairs was low (4%) and adult females presented exclusive home ranges among themselves. Median minimum density was 7.65 individuals per 100 km2 (CI = 5.68–10.19 ind/100 km2). Our results are congruent with characterizing P. maximus as a generally asocial species, most likely promiscuous/polygynous, that establishes large, long-term home ranges, which grants the population a naturally low density. Spatial patterns and biological characteristics obtained in this study can be used to guide future conservation strategies for P. maximus in the Pantanal wetlands and elsewhere.

This paper presents unique data on the reproductive behavior of the rare giant armadillo (Priodontes maximus), including gestation, inter-birth intervals, number of offspring and parental care. It also describes a potential non-parental infanticide. The study used telemetry, camera traps and track observations for over 7 years in a 300-km2 area in the central Brazilian Pantanal. Females with young were recorded 5 times. Reproductive events did not appear to be seasonal. A 5-month gestation period was estimated. Parental care is long, as the offspring is completely dependent on its mother’s milk until 6–8 months of age. Weaning was estimated to occur at 11–12 months, but the offspring continued to be dependent on its mother’s burrows until 18 months old. Three births were recorded over a 6-year period for one individual. The offspring from the first birth recorded was killed at 4 weeks of age in a potential infanticide, but 7 months after the first birth, a second offspring was born. A third birth was recorded 3 years after the second birth. Results from this study suggest that the population growth rate of giant armadillos is very low and the species can therefore easily be locally extirpated.

Morphometrics is the quantitative study of organisms shape and size. Intrinsic (e.g. age and sex) and extrinsic (e.g. abiotic conditions) factors can be related to morphological diversity and can aid in the study of species biology and ecology. Giant armadillos have rarely been captured in the wild and very little is known about the species. Here we aimed to characterize body measurements of free-living giant armadillos (Priodontes maximus) in mid-western Brazil and evaluate how these measurements vary between sexes and age classes to gain insights on the species biology and ecology. We captured 28 armadillos in the study area, 18 adults (9 males, 9 females) and 10 subadults (6 males, 4 females) and assessed twenty-five different morphometric measurements for each captured armadillo. To evaluate if age class and sex of adult individuals can be differentiated by a concise set of morphometric measurements we used Linear Discriminant Analyses. We encountered significant morphometric differentiation between age classes and report seven parameters that best discriminate individuals between age classes which may allow the identification of individual’s age class in future studies. The wide morphometric variation in subadults could indicate that individuals have a long developmental process between weaning and sexual maturity. Morphometric differentiation between sexes was possible through the association of three morphological parameters and adult males are larger and heavier than females. Although we were limited by the number of animals sampled in previous studies, females presented similar body mass across studied sites, while males presented variation of up to ten kilos across the species distribution. This indicates that the degree of sexual dimorphism can vary among localities and raises interesting ecological questions regarding the species reproductive system. This variation can be related to abiotic factors (e.g. latitude, temperature and topography), differences in productivity among biomes (i.e. resource abundance and distribution), population density, and/or genetic variation between populations and should be explored further. We propose the measurements used here be used as standard measurements for this species since it encompasses all of the most distinctive features of the species and allows a full morphological characterization, enabling the future comparison between populations of this widely distributed species.

Made available in DSpace on 2021-06-25T11:05:31Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2021-05-01 Armadillos are specialist diggers and their burrows are used to find food, seek shelter and protect their pups. These burrows can also be shared with dozens of vertebrate and invertebrate species and; consequently, their parasites including the zoonotics. The aim of this study was to diagnose the presence of zoonotic parasites in four wild-caught armadillo species from two different Brazilian ecosystems, the Cerrado (Brazilian savanna) and the Pantanal (wetland). The investigated parasites and their correspondent diseases were: Toxoplasma gondii (toxoplasmosis), Trypanosoma cruzi (Chagas disease), Leishmania spp., (leishmaniasis), Paracoccidioides brasiliensis (Paracoccidioidomicosis) and Mycobacterium leprae (Hansen's disease). Forty-three free-living armadillos from Pantanal and seven road-killed armadillos from the Cerrado were sampled. Trypanosoma cruzi DTU TcIII were isolated from 2 out of 43 (4.65%) armadillos, including one of them also infected with Trypanosoma rangeli. Antibodies anti-T. gondii were detected in 13 out of 43 (30.2%) armadillos. All seven armadillos from Cerrado tested positive for P. brasiliensis DNA, in the lungs, spleen, liver fragments. Also, by molecular analysis, all 43 individuals were negative for M. leprae and Leishmania spp. Armadillos were infected by T. cruzi, T. rangeli, P. brasiliensis and presented seric antibodies to T. gondii, highlighting the importance of those armadillos could have in the epidemiology of zoonotic parasites. Associate Researcher Naples Zoo at Caribbeans Gardens Instituto de Conservação de Animais Silvestres (ICAS) Associate Researcher The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Animal Universidade Federal do Mato Grosso do Sul Associate Researcher Houston Zoo Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia Universidade de São Paulo USP Programa de Pós Graduação em Saúde Única e Bem-Estar Animal Universidade Santo Amaro UNISA Departamento de Ciências Químicas e Biológicas Instituto de Biociências UNESP Laboratório Multi-user do Departamento de Parasitologia Animal Instituto de Medicina Veterinária Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro Laboratório de Biologia Molecular aplicada à Micobactérias Instituto Oswaldo Cruz Fundação Oswaldo Cruz Laboratório de Protozoologia Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo Laboratório de Biologia de Tripanosomatídeos Instituto Oswaldo Cruz Fundação Oswaldo Cruz Instituto de Medicina Tropical Universidade de São Paulo Departamento de Ciências Químicas e Biológicas Instituto de Biociências UNESP

Made available in DSpace on 2021-06-25T11:14:01Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2021-01-01 Mammals can show conspicuous behavioral responses to thermal variation, including changes in movement patterns. We used an integrative approach to understand how environmental temperature can drive the movement behavior of a mammal with low capacity for physiological thermoregulation, the giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla). We tracked 52 giant anteaters in 7 areas throughout the Brazilian savannah. We estimated the distance moved, area used, use of forest areas, and mean environmental temperature for each monitoring day of each individual. We modeled these data with Mixed Structural Equations — considering the possible interactions between our variables and controlling for sex and body mass. Giant anteaters reduced displacement and increased forest use with decreasing environmental temperature, probably because of their low body heat production. It is possible that they reduce distance moved and area used by reducing the duration of activity. With decreasing temperature, forest habitats become warmer than open ones, besides buffer rain and chilly winds. Reducing displacement and using forests are important strategies to reduce body heat loss and the energetic costs of thermoregulation. However, decreasing movement can limit food access and, consequently, fitness. Therefore, we highlight the importance of forests as thermal shelters. With increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, we showed the need to preserve forest patches to offer suitable conditions for tropical mammals’ behavioral thermoregulation. In this context, policies favoring deforestation on Brazilian territory are especially worrisome. Finally, we emphasize the need of integrative approaches to understand the complex interactions between organisms and the environment. Ecology Department Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul (UFMS) Post Graduate Program of Ecology and Evolution Federal University of Goiás (UFG) Institute of Research and Conservation of Anteaters in Brazil (PROJETO TAMANDUÁ) Institute for the Conservation of Wild Animals (ICAS) Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) Institute for Ecological Research (IPÊ) Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens The Houston Zoo National Institute of Criminalistics – Federal Police Embrapa Pantanal Natural Resources Graduate Program (PRONAT) – Federal University of Roraima (UFRR) Animal Biology Graduate Program Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul (UFMS) Animal Biology Department São Paulo State University (UNESP) Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health School of Veterinary Medicine University of São Paulo (USP) Brazilian Institute for Conservation Medicine (TRÍADE) Animal Biology Department São Paulo State University (UNESP)

The natural history of the southern naked-tailed armadillo Cabassous unicinctus squamicaudis is not well known. Here, we provide basic information about burrow systems, home ranges, activity, morphometric measures, and reproductive behaviour. We monitored 10 individuals through VHF telemetry and direct observations in the central Pantanal of Brazil for 24 months. Males (2.06km2) had significantly larger home ranges than females (0.59 km2) and home ranges of males overlapped with those of several females. There was very little overlap in ranges of the same sex and very few social interactions were observed. Southern naked-tailed armadillos dug convoluted galleries to forage, and, unless they used their entrance to exit, they emerged on average 2m away (ranging from 0.01 m to 17m) from the burrow entrance. When leaving their burrows, they spend on average 6.5 min above ground, travelling an average of 83 m (ranging from 1 m to 781 m) before going back underground. They do not return to sleep in a particular burrow, changing burrows frequently. The studied armadillos were diurnal, and spend 99.25% of the day underground, emerging only during the hottest period of the day (mid-afternoon). The southern naked-tailed armadillos should be classified as a subterranean species, rather than fossorial since they spent most of their time underground where foraging also takes place. Minimum densities of C. u. squamicaudis were estimated at 2.21 adults/km2. Gestation was estimated to last for 4 months. Parental care of a single young lasted on average 4 months. Niche overlap between E. sexcinctus and C. u. squamicaudis in the study area is minimal.

Fil: Di Blanco, Yamil Edgardo. Centro de Investigaciones del Bosque Atlantico; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Biologia Subtropical. Instituto de Biologia Subtropical - Nodo Puerto Iguazu | Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Instituto de Biologia Subtropical. Instituto de Biologia Subtropical - Nodo Puerto Iguazu; Argentina

Xenarthrans -anteaters, sloths, and armadillos- have essential functions for ecosystem maintenance, such as insect control and nutrient cycling, playing key roles as ecosystem engineers. Because of habitat loss and fragmentation, hunting pressure, and conflicts with domestic dogs, these species have been threatened locally, regionally, or even across their full distribution ranges. The Neotropics harbor 21 species of armadillos, 10 anteaters, and 6 sloths. Our data set includes the families Chlamyphoridae (13), Dasypodidae (7), Myrmecophagidae (3), Bradypodidae (4), and Megalonychidae (2). We have no occurrence data on Dasypus pilosus (Dasypodidae). Regarding Cyclopedidae, until recently, only one species was recognized, but new genetic studies have revealed that the group is represented by seven species. In this data paper, we compiled a total of 42,528 records of 31 species, represented by occurrence and quantitative data, totaling 24,847 unique georeferenced records. The geographic range is from the southern United States, Mexico, and Caribbean countries at the northern portion of the Neotropics, to the austral distribution in Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay. Regarding anteaters, Myrmecophaga tridactyla has the most records (n = 5,941), and Cyclopes sp. Have the fewest (n = 240). The armadillo species with the most data is Dasypus novemcinctus (n = 11,588), and the fewest data are recorded for Calyptophractus retusus (n = 33). With regard to sloth species, Bradypus variegatus has the most records (n = 962), and Bradypus pygmaeus has the fewest (n = 12). Our main objective with Neotropical Xenarthrans is to make occurrence and quantitative data available to facilitate more ecological research, particularly if we integrate the xenarthran data with other data sets of Neotropical Series that will become. Fil: Marques Santos, Paloma. Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. Instituto de Ciências Biológicas; Brasil Fil: Bocchiglieri, Adriana. Universidade Federal de Sergipe; Brasil Fil: Garcia Chiarello, Adriano. Universidade de Sao Paulo; Brasil Fil: Pereira Paglia, Adriano. Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. Instituto de Ciências Biológicas; Brasil Fil: Moreira, Adryelle. Amplo Engenharia e Gestão de Projetos ; Brasil Fil: Abba, Agustin Manuel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores; Argentina Fil: Paviolo, Agustin Javier. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Instituto de Biología Subtropical; Argentina Fil: Gatica, Ailin. Universidad Nacional de San Luis; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Luis. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones Biológicas de San Luis. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Ciencias Físico Matemáticas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones Biológicas de San Luis; Argentina Fil: Ochoa, Ana Cecilia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Luis. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones Biológicas de San Luis. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Ciencias Físico Matemáticas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones Biológicas de San Luis; Argentina Fil: de Angelo, Carlos Daniel. Universidad Nacional de Rio Cuarto. Facultad de Cs.exactas Fisicoquimicas y Naturales. Instituto de Ciencias de la Tierra, Biodiversidad y Ambiente. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Conicet - Cordoba. Instituto de Ciencias de la Tierra, Biodiversidad y Ambiente.; Argentina Fil: Tellaeche, Cintia Gisele. Universidad Nacional de Jujuy. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Centro de Estudios Ambientales Territoriales y Sociales; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Jujuy. Instituto de Ecorregiones Andinas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Ecorregiones Andinas; Argentina Fil: Varela, Diego Martin. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Instituto de Biología Subtropical - Nodo Puerto Iguazú | Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Instituto de Biología Subtropical - Nodo Puerto Iguazú; Argentina Fil: Vanderhoeven, Ezequiel Andres. Ministerio de Salud. Instituto Nacional de Medicina Tropical; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Caruso, María Flavia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Administración de Parques Nacionales. Delegación Regional del Noroeste; Argentina Fil: Arrabal, Juan Pablo. Secretaria de Gobierno de Salud. Instituto Nacional de Medicina Tropical - Sede Puerto Iguazú Misiones; Argentina. Centro de Investigaciones del Bosque Atlántico; Argentina Fil: Iezzi, María Eugenia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Instituto de Biología Subtropical - Nodo Puerto Iguazú | Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Instituto de Biología Subtropical - Nodo Puerto Iguazú; Argentina Fil: Di Bitetti, Mario Santiago. Centro de Investigaciones del Bosque Atlántico; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Instituto de Biología Subtropical - Nodo Puerto Iguazú | Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Instituto de Biología Subtropical - Nodo Puerto Iguazú; Argentina Fil: Cruz, Paula Andrea. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Instituto de Biología Subtropical - Nodo Puerto Iguazú | Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Instituto de Biología Subtropical - Nodo Puerto Iguazú; Argentina. Centro de Investigaciones del Bosque Atlántico; Argentina Fil: Reppucci, Juan Ignacio. Administración de Parques Nacionales. Delegación Regional del Noroeste; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Benito Santamaria, Silvia. Centro de Investigaciones del Bosque Atlántico; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Instituto de Biología Subtropical - Nodo Puerto Iguazú | Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Instituto de Biología Subtropical - Nodo Puerto Iguazú; Argentina Fil: Quiroga, Verónica Andrea. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal; Argentina Fil: Di Blanco, Yamil Edgardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Instituto de Biología Subtropical - Nodo Puerto Iguazú | Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Instituto de Biología Subtropical - Nodo Puerto Iguazú; Argentina Fil: Marás, Gustavo Arnaldo. Administración de Parques Nacionales. Delegación Regional del Noroeste; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Camino, Micaela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Centro de Ecología Aplicada del Litoral. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Centro de Ecología Aplicada del Litoral; Argentina Fil: Perovic, Pablo Gastón. Administración de Parques Nacionales. Delegación Regional del Noroeste; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Martínez Pardo, Julia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Instituto de Biología Subtropical - Nodo Puerto Iguazú | Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Instituto de Biología Subtropical - Nodo Puerto Iguazú; Argentina Fil: Costa, Sebastián Andrés. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Instituto de Biología Subtropical - Nodo Puerto Iguazú | Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Instituto de Biología Subtropical - Nodo Puerto Iguazú; Argentina Fil: Pinheiro, Fabiana. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; Brasil Fil: Volkmer de Castilho, Pedro. Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina; Brasil Fil: Bercê, William. Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho; Brasil Fil: Camara Assis, Julia. Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho. Faculdade de Engenharia.; Brasil Fil: Rodrigues Tonetti, Vinicius. Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho; Brasil Fil: Alves Eigenheer, Milene. Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho; Brasil Fil: Chinem, Simonne. Universidade de Sao Paulo; Brasil Fil: Honda, Laura K.. Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho; Brasil Fil: Bergallo, Helena de Godoy. Universidade do Estado de Rio do Janeiro; Brasil Fil: Alberici, Vinicius. Universidade de Sao Paulo; Brasil Fil: Wallace, Robert. Wildlife Conservation Society; Estados Unidos Fil: Ribeiro, Milton Cezar. Universidade de Sao Paulo; Brasil Fil: Galetti, Mauro. Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho; Brasil

Priodontes maximus is the largest living armadillo and is at risk of extinction. The species ranges throughout South America and one of its last refuges in the entire Atlantic Forest is a reserve complex called Sooretama. We investigated the conservation status of the species and its role as an ecosystem engineer in Sooretama. We employed camera-traps, active searches and checked the data from previous studies in the area. In the past 14 years, there were 70 records of the species in 31 sites, including 43 camera-trap images, 25 excavations and two carcasses. However, our recent field work (2018–2019) recorded images of only three adult individuals (a female, a male and one of unidentified sex) and one excavation with evidence that poachers had killed its occupant. We observed through camera-traps that at least 37 vertebrate species used monitored excavations. The species-richness detected in sites with excavations was greater than in sites without excavations. The number of species using excavations of P. maximus in Sooretama was one of the greatest recorded among studies carried out in different biomes. The interior of excavations tended to be used mainly by ground foraging stratum species and by invertebrate and omnivore diets species. This study demonstrated the important role of P. maximus as an ecosystem engineer in the Atlantic Forest. However, unless the course of its imminent extinction can be reversed, P. maximus soon will not be able to play its important ecological role in the Sooretama region.

The occurrence of ticks in four species of armadillos (Priodontes maximus, Euphractus sexcinctus, Cabassous unicinctus and Dasypus novemcinctus) in Pantanal wetland, State of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil is described. During the period from May 2011 to September 2015, 542 ticks of 28 wild armadillos were collected. Ticks species were identified as Amblyomma auricularium (Conil 1878), Amblyomma parvum Aragao, 1908 and Amblyomma sculptum Berlese, 1888. This study describes for the first time the identification of A. parvum parasitizing P. maximus, as well as A. sculptum for C. unicinctus in Brazil. The high diversity of ticks found in wild armadillos in the relatively pristine Pantanal biome, highlights the need for more studies on ticks and their interaction with wild, domestic and human species, specially their role for disease transmission and the potential risk for endangered species such as P. maximus.