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The Evolution of Mammals
Mammals evolved during the Triassic period, about the same time that the first dinosaurs
appeared. The first placental mammals appeared at the beginning of the Cretaceous period. The
earliest mammals were tiny, shrew-like mammals.
The long line of animals leading to the mammals includes:
Jawless fish (Cambrian period-mid Ordovician periods)
Bony fish (mid Ordovician period-late Devonian period)
Amphibians (late Devonian period-early Carboniferous period)
Reptiles (late Carboniferous period)
Pelycosaurs ("mammal-like reptiles") (late Carboniferous period to very early Triassic
period)
Mammals (mid-Triassic period to today).
Mammals are advanced synapsids, animals distinguished by having extra openings in the skull
behind the eyes; this opening gave the synapsids stronger jaw muscles and jaws (the jaw muscles
were anchored to the skull opening) than previous animals. Synapsids include the mammals, and
their ancestors, the pelycosaurs, therapsids, and cynodonts. Pelycosaurs (like Dimetrodon and
Edaphosaurus) were early synapsids, they were mammal-like reptiles. Later synapsids include the
therapsids and the cynodonts (with multicusped post-canine teeth; they lived from the late
Permian through the Triassic period). The cynodonts led to the true mammals. Over time, the
synapsid gait became more upright and tail length decreased.
Earliest-known Mammals:
Some of the earliest-known mammals (the Mesozoic Era) include Eozostrodon, Deltatheridium,
Jeholodens, Megazostrodon, Triconodon, and Zalambdalestes.
EOZOSTRONDON
Eozostrodon was one of the first true mammals; it lived
during the late Triassic period and early Jurassic period,
about 210 million years ago. This small, primitive, egg-
laying mammal fed the young with mother's milk.
Eozostrodon was a quadruped with short legs, a long, pointed snout, five-toed feet with claws, and
a long, hairy tail (it looked like a modern-day shrew). Eozostrodon was about 42 inches (107 cm)
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long. It was a triconodont that belonged to the family Morganucodontidae, which had true
mammalian teeth (the cheek teeth were differentiated into simple premolars plus more complex
molars, and the teeth were replaced only once, and the molars had triangular cusps).
DELTATHERIDIUM
(pronounced DEL-tah-ther-ID-ee-um)
Deltatheridium was an early mammal from the late
Cretaceous period, about 80 million years ago. This
opossum-like quadruped was about 6 inches (15
cm) long and had a long tail. Its had sharp canine
teeth and its cheek teeth were wide with triangular crowns. Deltatheridium was an insectivore that
may have also eaten small reptiles and perhaps scavenged. Deltatheridium had characteristics of
a very early marsupial (pouched mammal), and was a possible kangaroo ancestor. Fossils have
been found in Mongolia.
JEHOLODENS
Jeholodens was a triconodont, an early mammal. Jeholodens
jenkinsi, named by Luo Zhexi and Ji Qiang, dates from the
middle Cretaceous period, about 125 million years ago. Its
almost complete fossil was recently found in Lianong, China.
This long-tailed, quadrupedal mammal was about 5 inches (
cm) long. An insectivore, it had relatively advanced, grasping
hands, but a primitive pelvis and hind limbs. It may have had large eyes, and may have been
nocturnal (most active at night).
MEGAZOSTRODON
Megazostrodon was one of the earliest
mammals. It was a tiny quadruped with a long
tail, a long body, and a long snout. It lived from
the late Triassic period through the early
Jurassic period. This primitive mammal was about 4 inches (10 cm) long and weighed only a few
ounces. It may have eaten insects. A complete fossilized skeleton was found in Lesotho, South
Africa.
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ZALAMBDALESTES
Zalambdalestes was an early mammal that lived during
the late Cretaceous period. Fossils of this shrew-like
quadruped have been found in Mongolia. This tiny
mammal was about 8 inches (20 cm) long and its skull
was only 2 inches long and. This insectivore (insect
eater) had very sharp, interlocking teeth, a long, upturned snout, long foot bones, large eyes, a
small brain, and a long tail. Classification: Subclass Pantotheria, Infraclass Eutheria (placental
mammals), Genus Zalambdalestes.
During the last Ice Age, there were many large, interesting mammals, like thesaber-toothed cats,
giant ground sloths, mastodons, and mammoths. These animals have long since gone extinct and
are known mostly from fossils, from frozen, mummified carcasses, and even from ancient cave
drawings.
What Is a Mammal?
Mammals are animals that have hair, are warm-blooded, and nourish their young with milk. Some
modern-day mammals include people, apes, cats, bats, dogs, tigers, mice, moose, aardvarks,
beavers, elephants, gorillas, sloths, pandas, hamsters, horses, whales, and dolphins.
There are more than 4,000 different species of mammals. The smallest is the hog-nosed bat,
which weighs 0.05 ounces. The largest is the blue whale, which can be 100 feet long and weigh
150 tons. But whether they live on land or water, all mammals share some common
characteristics.
All mammals:
Are vertebrates (which means they have a backbone or spine).
Are endothermic. Also known as warm-blooded, endothermic animals regulate
their own body temperate which allows them to live in almost every climate on
Earth.
Have hair on their bodies.
Produce milk to feed their babies. This allows them to spend more time with their
young and teach them important skills they need to survive on their own.
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Types of Mammals
Monotremes: The monotremes are primitive egg-laying mammals. Modern-day monotremes
include the echidnas (spiny ant-eaters) and the duck-billed platypus.
Marsupials: Marsupials are another group of mammals; their young are born in an extremely
immature state; most female marsupials have pouches. Some marsupials include the koala,
kangaroo, and the numbat.
Placental mammals: Placental mammals are mammals whose young are born at a relatively
advanced stage (more advanced than the young of other mammals, the monotremes and
marsupials). Before birth, the young are nourished through a placenta. The placenta is a
specialized embryonic organ that is attached the mother's uterus and delivers oxygen and
nutrients to the young. Most mammals are placental mammals, like cats, dogs, horses, and
people.
Diet
Mammals have to eat a lot to maintain their high body temperature. Diets vary from genus to
genus. As with most animal groups, there are more herbivores (plant-eaters) than there are
carnivores (meat-eaters).
Types of Mammalian Diets:
Herbivores (plant eaters) - including beavers, cows, horses, pandas, sloths, and others
Carnivores (meat eaters) - including whales and dolphins, dogs, tigers, lions, and others
Omnivores (eat plants and meat) - people, some bears, and others
Insectivores (eat insects) - aardvarks, anteaters, pangolins, and others
Venomous Mammals: Only a few mammals are venomous, including the duckbilled platypus
(males only), several species of shrews, and the Solenodon (a small insectivore).
Mammal Extremes
Fastest mammal (also the fastest land animal): the cheetah (60-70 mph = 97-110 kph)
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Slowest mammal - the sloth (less than 1 mph, or 2 kph)
Biggest mammal, biggest animal that ever lived on Earth - the blue whale
Biggest land mammal- the African Elephant
Tallest mammal - the giraffe
Smallest mammals - the pygmy shrew (weighing 1.2-2.7 gm) and the bumblebee bat
(weighing about 2 gm)
Loudest mammal - the Blue Whale. The second loudest is the Howler Monkey.
Smallest newborns - marsupials (pouched mammals, like the kangaroo)
Smelliest mammal - the striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis)
The only venomous mammals - duckbilled platypus (males only), several species of
shrews, and the Solenodon
Fat - The blue whale has the thickest layer of blubber, but ringed seal pups have the
greatest percentage of fat (about 50 %).
MAMMALS IN PERU
Peru is among the 5 countries with the greatest diversity of Mammals in the world, with
more than 500 species representing 10 % of all Mammals of the planet. Which is like 50%
of the species in neotropics.
60% of all Mammals in Peru are found in the tropical forest.
301 species out of the 515 species in Peru are found in the Amazonian rainforest, and
about 100 species are found in the Tambopata National reserve.
70% of the species are endemic to Peru,
Peru has 55%of all the Didelfidos (marsupials) known in the world y 45% of the Edentates
(armadillos, sloths.)
About 95% of the primates in Peru are found in the Amazonian forest as well as 79% of the
edentates and 81% of bats.
The group of mammals with endemic species is rodents with around 30%, follow by
marsupials with 17% and primates with 8%.
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MAMMALS OF TAMBOPATA
MARSUPIALIA
Didelphidae
Common Opossum (Muca )
Didelphis marsupialis
47 species of opossum found in Peru, 7 in
Tambopata
considerable colour variation found.
Nocturnal, arboreal and terrestrial
Usually solitary
Diet: small animals e.g. insects, worms or small snakes;
fruit and nectar
Agressive and can squirt burning urine and defecate
when handled.
Mouse opossum Munca
Marmosops sp.
Nocturnal, arboreal and sometimes
terrestrial
Diet: insects and fruit
Small and solitary
Prehensile tail
PRIMATES
Callitrichidae
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Pygmi Marmoset
Cebuella pygmaea
Weight: 124g
Body length:130 370 mm
Tail length: 150 - 420 mm
Live in small family groups
2 offspring, 130-150 days gestation
Family group assists in birth and care of
offspring, father carries Young on back
25-100 acres territory which is defended by calls,
displays and Chasing intruders
Communicate with group members by facial expressions,
Posture and vocalisations.
Feed primarily on sap, gum and latex, often eat insects and occasionally fruit
Can leap 5 m and rotate head 180 degrees
Smallest monkey in the world
Range is bound by Rio Solimoes and Rio Caqueta
Found between 0 and 20 m in the understory
Emperor Tamarin
Saguinus imperator
Weight: 16 oz Body length: 9-10 Tail length: 15-16
Unique white, flowing moustache
140 days gestation, 2 offspring
Father carries young on back
Eats fruit, nectar, sap may also eat insects, eggs, frogs
Primarily found in lower and middle level of canopy
Close association with S. fuscicollis, common in mixed
groups
Groups of 2-8 individuals
Named after resemblance to the German Emperor Wilhelm II
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Saddleback tamarin -pichico
Saguinus fuscicollis
Smallest primate in Tambopata
Social and gregarious (2 -16
individuals)
Non-prehensile tail, has claws instead
of nails to help it leap from trunk to
trunk
Diet: Insects, fruit and nectar
Diurnal, den in tree hole or thick vegetation/vines
PRIMATES
Cebidae
Dusky titi monkey - tocon
Callicebus moloch
Reddish brown and has white tip to the tail
Small family groups (2-5 individuals), monogamous
Diet: fruit, leafs, flowers, sometimes insects
Prefers dense vegetation and vine tangles
Characteristic duets in the morning
Non-prehensile tail
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Squirrel monkey - Frailecillo
Saimiri boliviensis
Diurnal
Small but very gregarious (20-80 individuals)
Non-prehensile tail
Diet: Insects, fruit and nectar
Found in middle to low levels of forest
Frequently travel in association with capuchin monkeys
Brown capuchin monkey- Machin negro
Cebus apella
Medium-sized, brown and black monkey with white
facial markings
Prehensile tail
Gregarious (3-15 individuals)
Frequently seen in association with Samiri
boliviensis
Diet : fruit, nuts, insects, eggs/nestlings
White-fronted capuchin monkey Machin blanco
Cebus albifrons
Tan / brown colour, large groups (10-40 individuals),
otherwise very similar to brown capuchins
Feeds on fruit, seeds, athropods and wasps!
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Red howler Monkey Coto
Alouatta seniculus
Loud roaring at dawn, afternoon and during rain
Diurnal and arboreal
Diet: Fruit and leaves
Groups: 29 individuals
Prehensile tail
Has been recorded consuming clay from collpas
Spend most of their time resting in the canopy
Black spider monkey -Maquisapa
Ateles chamek
Largest primate species in Tambopata
Characteristic long arms and long prehensile tail which
can support their weight and is used as fifth limb, even
for gathering fruit.
Groups: 10-30 (1-5 per sub-group) vary in composition,
usually females play an active role and determine
foraging route
Diurnal and arboreal
Use upper part of the canopy
They mainly eat ripe fruit. Less frequently they consume
leaves and flowers, as well as nuts and seeds.
Their larynx is one of the most highly developed among
monkeys. They can produce a wide range of vocalizations
from bird-like calls to barking and grunting. Calls are used to
bring members of a group to a feeding site. There is a specific alarm call. Rough barks are
used to scare intruders. When threatened they will bark, throw branches, jump up and down
and shake tree limbs, especially at humans. They will also urinate and defecate towards
intruders.
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Black-headed night monkey -Musmuqui
Aotus nigriceps
Only truly nocturnal primate in Tambopata, which
means they avoid certain predators and competition for
food
Group: 2-9 individuals
Monogamous
Diet: fruit, insects, leaves, and sometimes frogs and
lizards
Sleep in tree holes and vine/bamboo thickets
Pale pink to red eyeshine
EDENTATES
Xenarthra
MIRMECIPHIGAEDAE
Giant anteater - Oso bandera
Myrmecophaga tridactyla
Weight: 18-39 kg
Body length: 1-2 m
Snout: 45 cm
Tail 650 900 mm
Tongue can extend 610 mm and has
spine like protrusions
No teeth
5 short claws on hindfoot, forefeet
have 5 claws with 3 elongated. They
walk on the wrists of their forefeet
Large home range, ~9,000 ha
When they encounter one another they either ignore each other or run away.
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Usually diurnal, terrestrial but good swimmers. They have been observed to climb in
captivity
When fights occur, individuals rear into a bipedal stance using their tail to balance and
forelimbs to fight.
Communicate in snorts, sniffs and hissing, during fights they roar.
While their sight and hearing is diminished, their smell is developed 40 times more than that
of humans.
Eat ants, termites and soft bodied grubs, The giant anteater is one of few taxa
of mammals without any teeth. Instead, it crushes insects it consumes using hard growths
found on the inside of its mouth, and its flabby stomach
Use claws to open insect colonies then collect insects with tongue
Salivary glands secrete sticky saliva that coats the tongue during feeding.
When feeding they remain at a colony for a short period of time before the solider ants
arrive. A few minutes is enough to collect a few thousand insects
Their tongue is attached to sternum and it can flick 150 times a minute.
They may sometimes also eat fruit
IUCN near threatened
CITES Appendix II
Southern tamandua -Oso hormiguero
Tamandua tetradactyla
Weight: 4.5 kg
Body length: 535-800 mm
Tail: 400-590 mm
Tongue 400 mm
Most common in habitats near water, paticularly those
with thick vines
Variable vest markings
4 claws on forefeet, 5 on hindfeet
Prehensile tail with hairless underside and tip
The snout is long and recurved, and only opens as wide as a pencil
Arboreal and terrestrial, diurnal but mainly nocturnal.
When aggrivated they hiss and produce an unpleasant odour
They spend 13-64 % of their time in trees
Small eyes and poor vision, but excellent hearing
Locate ants and termites by scent
They avoid ants with strong chemical defence, such as army or leafcutter ants
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Have also been found eating bees and honey
Amazonian indians use their tail tendons for rope
Pygmy anteater Serafin
Cyclopes didactylus
Weight : 266 g
Nocturnal, arboreal and solitary, rarely
descends to the ground
Fur is very dense
Tail is fully prehensile
Two claws on each forepaw
Eats arboreal ants, termites and occasionally
coccinellid beetles, 100-8000 ants a day
Inhabits the ceiba tree which has large seed pods that contain masses of silky, silverish
fiber, excellent camouflage
135 days gestation, 1 offspring which is placed in a nest of dry leaves in a hole in the tree
Young is raised by both parents and male sometimes carries young on back
Young is fed by regurgitation of semi digested insects
Has 64 chromosomes
EDENTATES
Xenarthra
Bradypodidae
Brown-throated three-toed sloth
Bradypus variegatus
3.49 5.19 kg, 600 mm length
Live in canopy for majority of life, but are
reputedly good swimmers
Seek out trees with crowns that are highly
exposed to sunlight, making it easier to fulfil
the sloths thermoregulatory needs
Algae often resides on outer fur which leads to a greenish tinge
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3 clawed toes on each limb
10 cervical vertibrae which enables 270 degree head rotation}
Birth can be on ground or in trees, the mother pulls the infant between her hindlegs
May live 30 years in the wild
Diurnal and nocturnal, most active between 12:00 and 18:00, sleep between 06:00 and
12:00
Poor eyesight and visual acuity due to lack of ciliary muscle vision functions optimally
under low light conditions
Defecate and urinate on the ground every 3-8 days
Feeds mainly on cecropia trees
Facultive drinker, meaning it recieves most of its water from ingested plant materials
EDENTATES
Xenarthra
Megalonychidae
Two-toed sloth - Pelejo
Choloepus hoffmani
Weight 4-8 kg, length 58-70 cm
Nocturnal herbivores, activity usually
begins an hour after sunset and
ceases by sunrise
arboreal - though they return to the
ground to defecate
Solitary
Strictly folivorous consume 70% of tree species
Habitat is limited primarily to areas fo continuous canopy. Habitat selection is correlated
with social inheretance of mothers home range and tree preference
Hair grows laterally across the abdomen so it is parted. This serves as a useful method to
expel run off water
Claws can extend 8-10 cm
5-8 cervical vertibrae and thick musclature provide head support
18 ever growing hypseledont teeth which lack enamel, but have two layers of dentin
Males distribute anal secretions onto branches. This is thought to demark a meeting place
between males and females
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Female advertises she is ready to mate by emitting a high pitched scream. Males then
move toward her. If two males reach her at the same time confrontation may occur. They
grasp a branch with a hind foot and swing forarms at one another.
11.5 months gestation for a single offspring. Pregnancy occurs in rainy season and births in
dry season.
Familial selection of tree spp. Has been noted as mothers teach offspring which trees to
feed from
During the day they rest in mid-canopy, moving towards the upper canopy in the evening.
They travel no more than 36.58 m in a day
They are capable of partially retracting their eyes, giving them a pop eyed appearence in
times of stress or agression.
Home range of 2-3 ha
Consume 0.35 kg of leaves, buds, fruits and flowers a day. Digestion takes 2 days, this
long time neutralises plant toxins and is the longest of all herbivores!
4 chambered stomach
EDENTATES
Xenarthra
Dasypodidae
Long-nosed nine-banded armadillo -
Carachupa
Dasypus novencintus
Weight: 3.6 7.7 kg
Body: 615-800 mm
Tail: 30 cm with 12-15 rings of scales
Forage for invertebrates in leaf litter.
90% of diet is invertibrates, 10 % fruit,
seeds and fungi. They may also eat
small reptiles and amphibians.
Able swimmers, they can hold air in their digestive tract to increase buoyancy. They can
also maintain a large oxygen debt so they can cross rivers on the bed.
At temperatures
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May have 12 den sites, average is 4 or 5
Dens are usually occupied by females and young male joins burrow for mating season.
Osteoderms (scales) provide hard and flexible cover and account for 16% of body weight.
Three main areas of coverage a pelvic shield, one in the shoulder region and the
characteristic scales on their backs.
May have 8 11 bands, each seperated by an epidermal layer and hair.
4 toes on forefoot, 5 on hindfoot, with claws and a pronounced middle claw.
Skill lacks ossified auditory bullae is dorso-ventrally flattened with distinct dentition.
Between 28 and 32 teeth (8/8) which have no enamel.
Long, sticky tongue.
Solitary
Polygnous, breeds in Nov/Dec and gives birth to 4 offspring after 4 months gestation.
Reproduction is by monzozygotic polyembryony when a blastocyst implants into uterus it
buds into 4 identical embryos, each of which then develops in its own amniotic cavity.
Young are born advanced, eyes open quickly but skin does not harden for a few weeks.
Disease carriers, in one population over 30% had leprosy bacterium.
Territory between 0.0063 to 20.1 km2
Nocturnal and crepuscular, however may forage during daytime in cold periods.
Dig shallow burrows as food traps
Can jump high into the air and sprint
Olfaction is primary mode of perception, they can smell invertibrates 20 cm below soil
surface, also have good hearing.
Communicate with a chucking sound.
Followed by some birds.
Greater long nosed armadillo Carachupa
Dasypus kappleri
The greater long-nose armadillo is one of the larger
species of armadillo, measuring 83106 cm (33
42 in) in total length and generally weighing 8.5
10.5 kg (1923 lb), though it can reach as much as
15 kg (33 lb)
The greater long-nosed armadillo has spurs on its
hind legs that allow it to crawl on its knees into
narrow tunnels. When threatened, it can release a
disagreeable musky odor.
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Giant armadillo -Yungunturu
Priodontes maximus
Weight 18.7 32.3 kg, length 832-960
mm
Nocturnal, terrestrial and solitary
Diet: termites, ants and some other
creatures (vipers too!).
Dig out large holes and tunnels, usually
on sloping land in terra firme forest
Enlarged central claw
Carapace covered with bony scales, cannot fully hide itself in carapace
No information exists on mating system
4 months gestation, birth to a single offspring
Once a termite mound has been eradicated, an armadillo will bury itself in the mound and
reside there for 24 hours
Home range between 450 ha and 3 sq kilometres
Controls the numbers of leafcutter ants
IUCN vulnerable, CITES Appendix I
RODENTIA
Sciuridae
Southern amazon red squirrel- Ardilla roja
Sciurus spadiceus
Usually solitary or in pairs
Reddish-brown with white belly
Fluffy tail
Diet: fruits and seeds (part. palms).
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Bolivian squirrel Ardilla ceniza
Sciurus ignitus
Medium sized squirrel, basically grey in colour (no red)
Diet: Fruit and nuts
Micrisciurus flaviventer
Amazon dwarf squirrel Ardilla enana
Very small, short tail
Diurnal, arboreal, solitary or in pairs
Diet: arthropods, nuts, fruit, sap and plants that grow on the bark of trees
Prize to anybody who takes me a good picture!
RODENTIA
Spalacidae
AMAZON BAMBOO RAT Dactylomys dactylinus
The Amazon bamboo rat has a body length of over 600 millimeters (about 24
inches) from the nose to the tip of the tail,[6] and weighs approximately 600-750
grams (21-26 ounces).[
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Due to the restricted diet of arboreal folivores, many of them move slowly to avoid wasting energy. The
Amazon bamboo rat's slow and cautious manner of climbing has the added effect of making its
movements completely silent, helping to protect it from predators.[5]Because the rat moves so slowly, its
displacement may only reach 62 meters (about 203 feet) in a single night.[5] If a bamboo rat is quietly
approached, it will back away slowly and silently; however, the rat is capable of disappearing swiftly into
the foliage if necessary.[5] This behavior allows the rodent to minimize its energy usage.
The Amazon bamboo rat is nocturnal, emitting its shrill cry throughout the night to communicate its
presence to other bamboo rats.
RODENTIA
Erethizontidae
Coendou bicolour bicolour
porcupine
Coendou bicolor occurs along
the eastern Andean foothills and in
adjacent Amazonian lowland forest
from the Peruvian department of
San Martin southward to
northeastern Bolivia (Beni)
lacks emergent fur and has
only bicolored quills.
the quills of the nape, shoulders, and upper back are much longer (8090 mm) than those
of the lower back and rump ( 50 mm).
On museum skins, the overlapping blackish parts of the long anterior quills conceal the
yellowish quill bases over the nape, shoulders and most of the dorsal surface, forming a
visually conspicuous blackish mantle that contrasts in color with a yellowish rump.
Lowland specimens have relatively longer tails, larger hind feet, and wider nasal apertures
than specimens collected in montane habitats, a common ecophenotypic trend in other
species of Neotropical porcupines
By comparison, most specimens of Coendou prehensilis (the only other large porcupine in
eastern Peru and Bolivia) have long tricolored (white-tipped) quills over the entire dorsal
surface, and there is no distinct mantle of longer quills over the nape, shoulders, and upper
back
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Brazilian Porcupine Coendou prehensilis
Weight 0.9 5 kg, body length 300-600 mm, tail length
330-485 mm
Arboreal, with long claws to aid climbing
Nocturnal
195-210 days gestation, single precocial offspring which is
able to climb immediately
During the day individuals rest at a height of 6-10 m
Intraspecific interactions include biting and attempting to
injure adversaries with sharp quills
When excited they stamp forefeet
Vocalisations include growling and cries
If caught will curl into a ball
Prehensile tail
Diet is vegetation, leaves, stems, fruits, blossoms
Peel away bark of trees to get to cambium
Also raid guava, bananas and corn from plantations
RODENTIA
Dasyproctidae
- Brown agouti Aguti/Anuje Dasyprocta variegata
Weight 1.3 4 kg, length 415-620 mm, tail 10-35 mm
1-3 offspring, gestation 104-120 days
Newborns are fully furred with eyes open and can
run within first hour of life
Agression increases with ever litter, due to shortage
of food
During courtship rituals the male sprays the female with urine, causing her to go into a
frezied dance
Can jump 2 m vertically from standing position
Found near water
Terrestrial, diurnal (sometimes nocturnal) active at dusk
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Tail very short, frequently indistinguishable
Diet : fruit, vegetables, succulent plants and nuts (Brazil nuts)
Likes thickets and fallen trees
Spotted paca Picuro Cunniculus paca
Terrestrial and nocturnal
Larger than agouti, and also has small
indistinguishable tail
Frequents forest near rivers, found in
mature, disturbed and secondary rainforest,
montane forest, gallery forest, gardens,
plantations
Excellent swimmers and often take to the water when pursued.
Feeds on fallen fruits, browse, and some tubers. the paca is an important seed disperser
5-13 kg
Pacas walk heavily and noisily in dry leaves. In alarm they usually do not call; rarely they
give a hoarse bark or make a deep rumbling sound.
Live in monogamous pairs but forage alone.
Burrows normally in permanently dry banks near water, may be marked by mounds of dirt.
Threatened by hunting because most prized neotropical game animals for their tender,
veal-like meat.
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Weight 10-15 kg, length 730-790 mm, 190 mm tail
Third largest living rodent, thought to be rare
Plantigrade feet with 4 digits, each with long and
powerful claw
1-4 offspring (av. 2), gestation 223-283 days
In breeding season they cry to attract partners
Mainly nocturnal and terrestrial, do occasionally climb
Solitary or pairs
Elaborate communication system, comination of foot stamping with forepaws, teeth
chattering, whines, songs and hisses
When feeding they sit on hind legs and hold food between forepaws
IUCN Endangered
Hidrochaeris hydrochaeris Capybara Ronsoco
Weight 35 66 kg, height 0.6 m at shoulder, length
1.2 m
Found only in areas where water is easily
accessible. Flooded grasslands and marsh are
favoured habitats. Also lowland forests with year-
round grazing.
Females are larger than males
Feet are partially webbed
Polygynous and promiscuous
2-8 offspring (Av. 4) gestation 150 days
Breed throughout the year with peak at the
beginning of the rainy season
Give birth and breed in water
Precocial young that can stand, walk and graze within a week of birth.
Young can suckle from any female in group. At 3 months are weaned.
PacaranaDinomys branickii
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Stay with mother/group until 1 year
Shared parenting in groups, 3-30 members
Each group defends a territory including feeding and wallowing sites
Strict dominance heirachy among males enforced by chasing and occasionally fighting.
Group living is important, solitary capybaras are rarely found
Group membership may be held for over three years
Suceptible to heat stress, activity is crepuscular, the hottest part of the day is spent in the
water
Strong swimmers, their bodies are only slightly denser than water
Vocalisations are important but little studied.
Scent is used in establishing dominance male capybaras have a morillo gland that
secretes white liquid from a bare lump at the top of the snout
Grazers, feed on grasses, aquatic plants and occasionally bark and fruit. They are
cophrophagous and spend part of each morning re-ingesting the previous days food
Can remain submerged for up to 5 minutes
Approved by catholic church as alternative
to beef or pork so meat is popular during
Lent as capybaras are classified as fish
CARNIVORES
Procyonidae
Crab eating racoon Mapache Procyon cancrivorus
Nocturnal, terrestrial but able climbers. Often found
near lakes
Diet: Molluscs, fish & crabs, insects & amphibians
Gestation 60-73 days, 2-6 young, den in hollow
trees
Breeds between July and September
Young born without teeth and with closed eyes.
Reach independence at 8 months
13 individual vocalisations recognised between mother and young
Nasua nasua South american coati Achuni
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Weight, 3-6 kg
Diurnal, gregarious procyonids
Terrestrial and arboreal, when alarmed will climb up trees
Sleep in tree tops, raise young in tree holes
Females disperse after giving birth, adult males are Solitary Females and immature males travel in groups of up to 30 individuals
In the breeding season a male is accepted into the group. The females then seperate
They give birth to 3-7 young then after 6 weeks the females re-group
Breeding season correlates with high fruit availability
Diet of insects, fruit, frogs, lizards, eggs/nestlings.
Other species follow coati, including mantled hawk, plain brown woodcreeper, red crowned
tanager and yellow bellied trogon
Stripy tail is held vertically when foraging
Kinkajou Chosna Potos flavus
Weight 2-3.5 kg
Nocturnal, arboreal
Diet: mainly fruit, insects and nectar
Characteristic prehensile tail
Bright eyeshine (yellow to greenish White)
They are solitary foragers but have close family
bonds and share dens in the day
Social groups consist of two males, one female, a
subadult and a juvenile
Produce a single offspring annually
In competition with Olingos and display agressive behaviour toward them
Long, flexible tongue can reach 20 cm
Flexible spine, reversible hind feet and rotate 180 degrees between head and pelvis
Gestation and lactation last 8 mo, kinkajous are weaned at 3-5 months
Communication is auditory and olfactory, scent marking is important
May use known trail systems to return to familiar fruit trees
Are camera trap shy
South american coati AchuniNasua nasua
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Olingo Falsa chosnaBassaricyon alleni
Nocturnal, arboreal, solitary
Diet: fruit, invertebrates and nectar, may be seasonally
carnivorous during fruit scarcity but untested theory.
Consume predominantly Moraceae family
Characteristic ringed, non-prehensile tail
Bright yellow eyeshine
Occupies western half of Amazon Basin
Pollinators for nocturnal for nocturnal flowering species
such as Ochroma
Little is known about ecological requirements or number of
indepedant taxa
Single offspring born with its eyes closed, gestation is 73
days
By day make dens in large trees >50 cm DBH or in thick vine tabgles
Patchily distributed due to forest productivity, fruit and flower seasonality and competition
with kinkajous
Five subspecies are recognised but there is considerable debate surrounding this
Natives of the Amazon consider the Olingo dangerous and kill them on sight
CARNIVORES Mustelidae
Tayra Manco
Eira barbara
Diurnal, nocturnal, solitary or in pairs,
terrestrial and arboreal, swims well
Highly omnivorous, enjoys chomping
on Spiny rats , fruits, invertibrates and
reptiles
When alarmed emit a short, barking call
Make dens in hollow trees, burrows of other animals and tall grass. Give birth to 2-3 cubs
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Giant River Otter Lobo del RioPteronura brasiliensis -
Live in freshwater rivers, lakes and creeks, preferring
gently sloping river banks and secluded areas with
overhanging vegetation
Family groups consist of 2-11 individuals in a 12 sq km
range. Members of the family clear 50 sq m streamside. They collect tree limbs and
leaves and leaves in a trampled mud patch. There may be 1-5 communal latrines along
site perimeter. Territory is marked with scent from anal glands
Lifespan 10-13 years
9 vocalisations
Eat 6-9 lbs of food per day
Litter size 1-5 cubs, young spend 2-3 weeks in den. At 1 month they open their eyes and
begin following their parents. By 3-4 months they are weaned. Fully grown at 9-10 months
Social piscivore, but when there is a low abundance of fish they eat crustaceans, small
snakes and caiman.
The body is covered with velvety, brown fur, which is dense and water-repellent. A patch of
cream colouring is present on the throat and chin, the pattern of which is unique to each
individual from birth. The giant otter has short legs and large webbed feet which, along with
the wing-like tail, allow the otter to move quickly through the water. The movement of prey
is detected by the large eyes and sensitive whiskers
Neotropical OtterLontra Longicaudis
Aquatic and terrestrial, solitary and diurnal
Shelters in cavities in stones, tree roots and
burrows
Scent mark in areas of high activity, also
spray and defecate
Feeds on fish, crustaceans, molluscs, also
insects, birds and small mammals
When foraging can dive for 20-30 seconds
1-5 young, leave nest at ~ 52 days
Males provide no parental care and leave young after breeding
Decline due to overhunting, listed as CITES Appendix I
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GrisonGalictis ciya & Galictis vittata
Wide range of habitats up to 4,000 m
Found in rock pilings, hollow trees and burrows
May be solitary or in pairs
Diurnal and nocturnal, but active morning and late
afternoon
4.2 sq km home range
Diet: agoutis, mice, reptiles, birds, fruit
Young are born in March, August, October and
September
Very little is known about natural history
CARNIVORESCanidae
Short-eared dog Perro de monte
Atelocynus microtis
Generalist carnivores, excellent swimmers with
interdigital membrane
Diet: fish, fruit, insects and agoutis
Solitary
Uncommon (endangered)
Incredibly elusive and poorly documented
Female larger than males
2-3 pups
Erect the hairs on the tip of tail when excited, hence name flag tailed wild dogs
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Bush DogSpeothos venaticus
Weight: 5-7 kg, body length 575-750 mm, tail
length 125-150 mm, height 300 mm
Diurnal, inhabit a den at night
Webbed feet, diploid chromosome number of
Molars 2/2 pattern
Monogamous, average little size of 3.8, 65-
70 days gestation, 28-150 days weaning
Uses high pitched peeps to locate pack members
Prey on acouchis, agoutis, pacas
CITES Appendix I
IUCN Vulnerable
Maned WolfChrysocyon brachyurus -
Weight 20-23 kg, head and body length
1245-1320 mm, tail 280-405 mm
Monogamous, but live independantly in
same territory, approx. 27 km2
Territories are strictly observed, boundaries
marked by urine and faeces
Primarily nocturnal, during daylight they rest
in areas of thick brush. Males are more active than females
Omnivorous, eats armadillos, rabbits, eggs, some fruit including bananas, guavas and
those tomato-like, also roots and tubers
3 types of vocalisations; a single, deep throated bark heard after dusk, a high pitched whine
and a growl
2.47 average offspring, 56-66 days gestation, 120-210 days weaning
Birth in natal nests in thick vegetation
May be only survivor of late Pleistocene extinction of the large South American canids
Fossils discovered from Holocene and late Pleistocene
CARNIVORESFelidae
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Ocelot Tigrillo/Ocelote
Leopardus pardalis
Weight 8.5-16 kg, length 65-97 cm
(males larger than females)
Nocturnal, crepuscular, usually
terrestrial though adept at climbing and
swimming
Highly carnivorous, track prey by odor trails average 0.9 prey captures per km travelled.
Tail same length or shorter than hind leg
Diet: 65% small rodents, 12-18% reptiles, 6-10 % medium sized mammals, 4-11 % birds, 2-
7 % crustaceans & fish. Can also take a tamadua or red brocket deer.
Home range of single male will overlap that of several females
2-31 km2 home range
Females attract males by loud yowls, similar to that of a domestic cat
Average offspring: 2, 73-85 days gestation, 6 weeks to weaning and 12 mo. To
independance
Active for 12 h a day
Lack a third molar, absent or reduced postglenoid foramen at the base of the skull and an
anterior palatine canal that passes through the maxilla.
Known predators include harpy eagle, puma, jaguar and anaconda
Margay Huamburushu Leopardus wiedii
Weight 2.6 3.9 kg, head and body length 463 790 mm,
tail 221 to 510 mm
Arboreal, notable climbing prowess, capable of reversing
hind feet and suspend themselves on rear feet
Smaller than an ocelot, tail longer than hind leg
Highly carnivorous feeding on birds, bats, small rodents,
large insects
Asocial, temporary bonds formed during breeding
15-43 km2 home range
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Mountain lion/Puma Puma Puma concolor
Weight 29-120 kg, body 860 1540 mm
Colour varies across range, but in this part of
the Amazon appear reddish, with contrasting
dark tail tip
Solitary population densities vary from as
low as one individual per 85 km2 to as high as
one per 13-53 km2, dependent on resources
(prey)
Terrestrial (rarely in trees) and nocturnal
Diet: stalks large prey (deer, rodents,
snakes, birds) and pounces at close range,
breaking the neck. When they catch prey it might be dragged 350 m and buried. They
return nightly to feed
Very inquisitive, though few reports on humans have been reported they may follow
humans from curiosity but will flee if approached boldly.
Males territory will overlap those of females. Territory is marked every 200 m by scratches,
defecation and scent
Female home range is 26-350 km2 and may overlap with others.
Male range is exclusive and typically includes that of two females, average 280 km
Females communicate in oestrus by yowling loudly
Usually they have a litter every 2 years, and average 2.9 offspring. Gestation is for 85-106
days
Males are reproductively active until at least 20 years of age, females 12
Mother and cubs remain together for 15-26 months or until she has another litter
Males then disperse 23-274 km, females 9-140 km
IUCN near threatened, CITES Appendix I and II
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Jaguar Otorongo/Tigre Panthera onca
Weight 63-136 kg, body 1.5-1.85 m,
tail 70-90 mm
Largest mammalian predator in the
Amazon
Nocturnal and diurnal, solitary and
terrestrial, though will climb trees to catch
something or to get away from angry
peccaries!
Most active at dusk and dawn
Can travel large distances, 3.3 km/day males, 1.8 km/day females
Prefer cover of dense, tropical, moist lowland forest.
Excellent swimmers, often found near water
Males 10-20% Larger than females
territory
Females may allow two males to court, which sometimes leads to competition. Females do
not tolerate male presence after breeding
Females breed once every two years, most births occur in the wet season when prey is
abundant
Average 2 offspring, gestation 91-111 days
Offspring is dependent on mother until 2 years old
Territories are marked by vocalising, scraping trees, urinating and spraying vegetation
Vocalisations are grunting uhs increasing in tone and power while decreasing in
frequency. Normally 7-12 depending on sex and reproductive status
Over 85 species of prey
Attack by pouncing and delivering, single bite then they wither suffocate or kill prey by
piercing back of skull with canines. They then drag their prey to a secluded spot and eat it
IUCN near threatened, CITES Appendix I
PERISSODACTYLA
Tapiridae
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Weight 150-250 kg, shoulder
height 77-108 cm, length 294-221
cm
Largest mammal in the
Amazon
Terrestrial and nocturnal,
usually solitary
Diet: Fruit, leaves, plant
material, mombins, huito and
moriche palm
Loves water, good swimmer and frequently defecates in water
Prefer tropical montane forests but are also present in swamps and lowland forests
Highest population densities are found in areas with lush vegetation and 2,000-4,000 mm
rain/year
Juveniles are brown with horizontal white stripes
Proboscis made entirely of soft tissue, snout has reduced bone and cartilage compared to
other ungulates
Skulls have a prominent saggital crest that gives the top of the head a humplike projection
extending from the eyes to the neck with a short mane
They use chemical communication, urnitating and using facial glands to mark territory
IUCN Vulnerable, CITES Appendix II
ARTIODACTYLA
Tayassuidae
Solitary or in small groups (1-20)
Diet: Fruit and nuts
Strong, distinct odour cheese or chicken soup
Diurnal, sleep in holes and hollow, fallen trunks
Brazilian tapir SachavacaTapirus terrestris
Collared peccary SajinoPecari tajacu
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Tayassu pecari
White-lipped peccary Huangana
Highly gregarious (10-300 individuals)
No fixed territory, move long distancessearching for food
Diet: fruit, palm nuts, invertibrates
Strong odour, distinctive sound
Diurnal
ARTIODACTYLA
Cervidae
Found in a variety of habitats, including
montane and lowland forests
identifiable by its uniform red coat with white
underside and slightly greyish head.
the largest deer in Tambopata, standing 710
mm at the shoulder.
solitary unless courting and are active at day
and night
eyeshine is large, yellow to orange.
generalist browsers and their diet includes fungi and the leaves and fruit of over 60 plant
species.
The gestation period is 7 months (check) after which a single fawn is raised by the mother.
The fawn is left in vegetation and the mother returns to nurse it until it is several weeks old
and can follow.
When alarmed they emit a frightened snort and stamp the ground with their forefoot.
They favour dense vegetation and the males have small, straight, backward pointing antlers
to accommodate this.
Females and immature males travel in groups
of up to 30 individuals
Red brocket deer Venado coloradoMazama americana
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Mazama gouazoubira
Grey brocket deer-Venado cenizo
Diurnal and nocturnal, usually solitary
Smaller and slighter than red brocket deer
Grey/brown coat
More common in drier terra firme forest
Diet: Browse, fallen fruit and flowers