Marking behavior of the giant anteater Myrmecophaga tridactyla (Mammalia: Myrmecophagidae) in Southern Brazil

Fernanda G Braga,Antonio C Batista,Raphael E F Santos

doi:10.1590/s1984-46702010000100002

Fernanda G Braga, Antonio C Batista + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.1590/s1984-46702010000100002

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Journal: Zoologia (Curitiba)	Publication Date: Feb 1, 2010
Citations: 13	License type: cc-by

Affiliation: Federal University of Paraná

Abstract

This research presents novel data on tree marking by the giant anteater, a large Neotropical mammal threatened in the state of Parana and other areas of Brazil, and nearly threatened worldwide. Field work was carried out in the municipality of Jaguariaiva, Parana (Southern Brazil) with the goal of evaluating the pine marking behavior of the giant anteater and ascertaining whether wildfires interfere with it. Anteater marks were searched for on the trunks of pine trees in stands as well as pine trees dispersed throughout the landscape. For each pine tree, the following features were recorded: height, diameter breast height (DBH), height of first branch, presence/absence of scratch marks, geographical location, substrate, and matrix. The total number of scratches, scratch directions, scratch length, and height of top mark were also recorded. The scratches were defined as horizontal or vertical. Tree scratching was directly observed in three instances. Ninety-one trees were measured in the study area. The differences between marked and non-marked pines were significant for DBH and height of first branch. All scratches were found on pines dispersed throughout the landscape. Trees with horizontal and vertical marks were significantly different in terms of DBH, first branch height, and top mark height. After a wildfire that affected part of the study area, 54% of the previously marked trees were marked anew. We suggest that the marking behavior is used for communication between conspecifics with overlapping home ranges, possibly during the mating season. Additionally, we advance the hypothesis that pine marking behavior becomes more frequent with increased population stress due to anthropic interference.

Highlights

The giant anteater, Myrmecophaga tridactyla (Linnaeus, 1758), is the largest known anteater species, and the only species in Myrmecophaga
The present study evaluates the patterns of scratch marks made by anteaters on pine trees, and the influence of wildfires on tree scratching behavior
The first scratching behavior on a pine tree was recorded on June 30, 2007 at 4:48 PM

Summary

Introduction

The giant anteater, Myrmecophaga tridactyla (Linnaeus, 1758), is the largest known anteater species, and the only species in Myrmecophaga. The fur of the giant anteater is very long from the nape to the tail, resembling a mane. In the last 200 years, the distribution area of the giant anteater has dwindled due to intensive degradation of its natural habitat (PARERA 2002). Second to the direct modification of the environment for profit, biological contamination in the form of invasion by exotic species is the greatest cause of environmental degradation (ZILLER & GALVÃO 2002) in the area. The native grasslands are susceptible to the invasion of an exotic species of pines that have small seeds which are disseminated. Reforestation with pines is an important source of insertion of forest fragments when compared to other types of monoculture around natural areas. The present study evaluates the patterns of scratch marks made by anteaters on pine trees, and the influence of wildfires on tree scratching behavior

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