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)

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.

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.

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)

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%.

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

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

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

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!

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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).

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).[

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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