New-record of the bush dog speothos venaticus in a human-altered landscape in west Minas Gerais, Brazil

Abstract

ABSTRACT:The bush dog (Speothos venaticus) is a Neotropical canid with a wide geographic distribution.Although globally listed as Near Threatened, this species was listed as Vulnerable in a recent assessment by the Brazilian government. Few records of this mammal have been reported in the Brazilian Cerrado, and it is considered extinct in several localities as a result of human landscape fragmentation. The record presented here is the first evidence of bush dog presence in the West of Minas Gerais, Brazil, which augments the species distribution with expected occurrence for this region. The study site was a transitional area between the Cerrado and Atlantic Forest biomes, in the Triângulo Mineiro region, which is a highly fragmented landscape, dominated by cattle ranches with exotic pasture species and scattered natural patches. We recorded a single bush dog individual in our survey (4,036 camera trap/night), but our sampling success was expected compared with that of other previous mammal surveys using the camera trapping method, in part, because of the species' elusive behavior and low natural densities. This record enhances knowledge of the S. venaticus distribution. Potentially, we confirm the presence of the bug dog in a region that was regarded being environmentally suitable for this species occurrence, but where it has never been reported. Moreover, our result elucidates the potential of the natural remnants to harbor threatened species in highly human-influenced and non-protected landscapes, which is the dominant scenario found in West Minas Gerais, Brasil.

Surveying in highly-modified landscapes to document the occurrence of threatened species: a study of the giant armadilloPriodontes maximusin central Brazil

“…This may also be the case for other rare and threatened Brazilian species (e.g. bush dogs were recently recorded in our study area, where the species was expected but had not previously been observed; Azevedo et al, 2016). Our results suggest that road-kills and poaching, in addition to habitat loss, continue to threaten the giant armadillo in central Brazil.…”

Primeiro registro do cachorro-vinagre Speothos venaticus (Carnivora, Canidae) para a Mata Atlântica do estado do Rio Grande do Sul, sul do Brasil

“…Esse fato se dá possivelmente devido à grande área de vida dos grupos sociais e ao hábito semifossorial, com uso de tocas como refúgio, além de apresentar populações pequenas e de baixa densidade (FERREIRA et al, 2015). Portanto, pouco se sabe sobre a distribuição geográfica e a ecologia da espécie em detalhe, apesar de alguns avanços no conhecimento nos últimos anos (AZEVEDO et al, 2016).…”

“…Portanto, o presente estudo objetiva descrever o primeiro registro do cachorrovinagre para o estado, expandindo assim a área de Misiones (Corredor Verde da Mata Atlântica) e a norte com o estado de Santa Catarina, no Brasil. Com 17,491 ha, o PET compreende a maior área contínua conservada do ecossistema da Floresta Estacional Decidual no estado do Rio Grande do Sul (BALBINOT et al, 2016). O clima predominante na região é classificado como Cfa -Clima Subtropical, segundo a classificação climática de Köppen-Geiger, com temperatura média anual de 19,5ºC (SILVA et al, 2005).…”

First record of the bush dog Speothos venaticus in the Atlantic Forest of Minas Gerais, Brazil

“…The bush dog Speothos venaticus occurs in Central and South America (DeMatteo & Loiselle, 2008), is a strict carnivore (Beisiegel & Zuercher, 2005; Lima et al, 2009) and is considered the smallest and most social Neotropical canid (Azevedo et al, 2016; Oliveira et al, 2018). Previous research has examined the conservation status, distribution and ecological requirements of this species (DeMatteo & Loiselle, 2008; Oliveira, 2009; Michalski, 2010; Ferreira et al, 2015; Lima et al, 2015; Jorge et al, 2018).…”

“…Previous research has examined the conservation status, distribution and ecological requirements of this species (DeMatteo & Loiselle, 2008; Oliveira, 2009; Michalski, 2010; Ferreira et al, 2015; Lima et al, 2015; Jorge et al, 2018). Nevertheless, because of its elusive behaviour, low density, fragmented occurrence and large home range, the biology of the bush dog is poorly known (DeMatteo & Kochanny, 2004; Michalski & Pérez, 2005; DeMatteo & Loiselle, 2008; Lima et al, 2012, 2015; Azevedo et al, 2016; Tiepolo et al, 2016; Jorge et al, 2018; Oliveira et al, 2018).…”