Evaluation of collared anteaters (Tamandua tetradactyla) presented in a wildlife health reference center of São Paulo state, Brazil

Abstract

Deforestation and road construction have inflicted negative effects on wildlife populations. To contribute to the comprehension and preservation of wildlife species, this study aimed to evaluate collared anteater presented to a reference center located in São Paulo state, Brazil. Furthermore, the locations where the animals were most frequently found were determined. Data on collared anteaters (Tamandua tetradactyla) examined at the Center for Medicine and Research in Wild Animals (CEMPAS) were evaluated retrospectively for a period of 13 years. A total of 46 collared anteaters was examined, comprised of 14 males, 10 females, and 22 without identifying information. On average, adult males weigh 4.41 kg while adult females weigh 4.95 kg. The most common admission circumstance was vehicular strikes (36.96%), followed by dog bites (21.74%); 23.91% were considered clinically healthy. Animal outcomes were 36.96% (n=17) reintroduced, 34.78% (n=16) fatalities, 15.22% (n=7) transferred to other institutions, and 6.52% (n=3) escaped from the enclosure; and 6.52% (n=3) presented no medical record information. The collared anteaters were found mainly in the municipal areas of Botucatu (21.73%), São Manuel (17.39%), Lençóis Paulista (6.52%), and Bauru (4.34%), with SP-300 being the main highway associated with the occurrences. In conclusion, the main cause of lesion in the collared anteaters evaluated in this study was vehicular strike that that led to death. However, including all collared anteaters at least half of them had a positive outcome. Keywords:Wild animal, highway, clinical evolution, anteater. Avaliação de tamanduás-mirins (Tamandua tetradactyla) atendidos em um centro de referência de animais selvagens do Estado de São Paulo, BrasilResumo: O desmatamento e a construção de estradas têm promovido uma série de problemas à fauna. Visando contribuir com informações que podem ser usadas na compreensão e preservação das espécies, o trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar tamanduás-mirins atendidos em um centro de referência localizado no Estado

Ants in the diet of Collared Anteater, Tamandua tetradactyla (Linnaeus, 1758) (Pilosa, Myrmecophagidae), in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

“…Tamandua tetradactyla is a common species in all Brazilian biomes (Desbiez and Medri 2010). It is one of the most frequently roadkilled animals in southeastern Brazil, and studies of the impacts caused by the road network and resident fauna have enabled access to previously unavailable data (Bernegossi et al 2018), such parasites (Pinheiro et al 2018), diseases (Muñoz-García et al 2018), and food preferences (Gallo et al 2017) . The analysis of contents in the digestive system of roadkilled animals shows how carcasses can be used to generate information on the biology and feeding habits of this species.…”