USE OF UNDERSTORY FOR FRUGIVORY BY Thrichomys fosteri (RODENTIA, ECHIMYIDAE)

Abstract

Thrichomys fosteri (Rodentia, Echimyidae) is a terrestrial spiny rat displaying frugivorous/herbivorous diet. Then, why eventually this terrestrial species uses the understory? Here, we report two events of use of understory for fruit feeding by the spiny rat. Monthly from October 2015 through July 2016, we sampled three sites in one woodland savannah fragment in the Pantanal ecoregion. Each site was 1 km apart from each other, and present five camera traps on understory (1.5 m height) in front of different fruit plant species. With an effort of 350 camera trap-days, we recorded twice the punare on branch of Randia armata (Rubiaceae) feeding on its fruits. Our results highlight a feeding behaviour on understory by the terrestrial spiny rat, which contribute to the understanding of the species’ natural history as well as point out questions for further investigations.