Assembling rodent's feeding links: Observation of Sumichrast's Vesper Rat, Nyctomys sumichrasti (Rodentia: Cricetidae), feeding on fruits of Tabernaemontana glabra (Apocynaceae)

Frugivory and Seed predation of Jacaratia spinosa (Caricaceae) by Sumichrast’s Vesper Rat, Nyctomys sumichrasti (Rodentia: Cricetidae)

“…Based on the observations, only one fruit was exploited by the rodents per night and no other animal was observed consuming the flesh nor the seeds of the J. spinosa tree. Lastly, and as documented by other authors (Timm and Vriesendorp 2003;Villalobos-Chaves et al 2020), while predating on the seeds of J. spinosa, N. sumichrasti were always using its long tail and hind feet to support itself. The use of these morphological traits to move and stabilize themselves while foraging may allow this species to exploit resources on other strata not available for other rodents (Villalobos-Chaves et al 2020).…”

“…Dietary information of N. sumichrasti is scarce and available data suggest that this species can eat seeds in captivity. However, information about seed predation is limited to these observations (Hunt et al 2004) or assumptions by other authors (Villalobos-Chaves et al 2020). Here, we reported on the interaction of the Sumichrast's Vesper Rat with the fruits and seeds of the Neotropical plant Jacaratia spinosa (Figure 1a).…”

“…It is mainly recognized by its orange upperparts, its creamy white underparts, large eyes surrounded by dark eye rings, and a dark and long-haired tail with a pronounced terminal tuft (Reid 2009). Dietary information suggests that Nyctomys sumichrasti feeds mainly on fruits, seeds, and leaves (Genoways and Jones 1972;Eisenberg 1989;Ceballos 1990;Timm and Vriesendorp 2003;Hunt et al 2004;Bessesen and Saborío-R 2009;Villalobos-Chaves et al 2020) and despite is one of the most well-known Neotropical rodent species, basic aspects of its natural history, including its ecological roles are poorly understood.…”

Linking mode of seed dispersal and climatic niche evolution in flowering plants

“…These categories are simplified as 'fleshy' and 'dry' throughout the text, even though there are some endozoochorous fruits that are technically dry, such as those of Gaultheria (Ericaceae) which are dry, but have a fleshy persistent calyx that attract frugivores, or those of Tabernaemontana (Apocynaceae), which are also dry, but have fleshy arillate seeds and strong evidence of dispersal by frugivores (e.g. Villalobos-Chaves et al, 2020). Although the concept of dispersal syndrome is usually well supported in these five families, it did not avoid some challenges in scoring fruit type in groups where natural history observations are scarce and dispersal mode may vary in a continuum (e.g.…”