Distribution and ecology of squirrels (Rodentia: Sciuridae) in Paraguay, with first country records of Sciurus ignitus
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Issue Date
2015-03Author
Timm, Robert M.
Cartes, José L.
Mirtha, Ruiz-Díaz
Zárate, Rodrigo
Pine, Ronald H.
Publisher
Southwestern Association of Naturalists
Type
Article
Article Version
Scholarly/refereed, publisher version
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We document for the first time that Sciurus ignitus, a medium-sized agouti-patterned squirrel with white venter, occurs in Paraguay, being found in the northern Chaco–Pantanal region of the country, where the borders of Paraguay, Bolivia, and Brazil come together. Sciurus urucumus, the only species of squirrel previously known with certainty to range into Paraguay, occurs in the Chiquitano Forest of the northeastern Paraguayan Chaco. We provide details of the Paraguayan habitats for the known specimens of both species. At present, we know of no localities where the two species co-occur. We critically evaluate some of the morphological characters used previously to characterize S. ignitus. Interviews with local hunters, including Aché indigenous ones, coupled with an earlier, published account by A. de W. Bertoni (1939), indicate that the squirrel Sciurus aestuans also occurs in eastern Paraguay’s Departamento Alto Paraná, although no specimens are now available from the country.
RESUMEN—Documentamos por primera vez que Sciurus ignitus, una ardilla de tamaño mediano con pelo de patrón agutí y con el vientre blanco, ocurre en Paraguay, en la región Chaco–Pantanal del norte del país, donde se unen las fronteras de Paraguay, Bolivia y Brasil. Sciurus urucumus, la única especie de ardilla cuyo rango se conocía previamente con certeza de incluir Paraguay, se encuentra en el Bosque Chiquitano del noreste del Chaco paraguayo. Proveemos detalles sobre los hábitats paraguayos de los especímenes de ambas especies. En el presente, no conocemos de ninguna localidad donde las dos especies concurren. Evaluamos críticamente algunas características morfológicas usadas previamente para caracterizar S. ignitus. Entrevistas con cazadores locales, incluyendo indígenas Aché, en conjunto con un reporte publicado anteriormente por A. de W. Bertoni (1939), indican que la ardilla S. aestuans también ocurre en el este de Paraguay, en el Departamento Alto Paraná, aunque ningún espécimen se conoce aún del país.
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Citation
Timm, R. M. J. L. Cartes, M. Ruiz-Díaz, R. Zárate, and R. H. Pine. 2015. Distribution and ecology of squirrels (Rodentia: Sciuridae) in Paraguay, with first country records for Sciurus ignitus. Southwestern Naturalist 60(1):121-127.
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