Food of the Armadillo<i>Dasypus novemcinctus</i>L. from Cumberland Island, GA

Whitaker, Jr. J. O.; Ruckdeschel, Carol; Bakken, Laura

doi:10.1656/058.011.0312

Cited by 15 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…This result was unexpected, as Cabassous is largely, if not exclusively, myrmecophagous [Redford, ] and often digs its burrows under termite nests [Carter and Encarnação, ]. Because Dasypus species are classified as generalist insectivores that ingest a wide variety of food items, including fruit [Redford, ; Whitaker et al, ], we expected them to show more interest in the plastic balls filled with fruit pulp than the specialist insectivore Cabassous . Instead, both D. novemcinctus and D. sabanicola rarely inspected the plastic balls—neither those with fruit pulp nor with dog food—and preferred termite mounds, rotten logs, and cardboard boxes.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Behavioral responses of three armadillo species (Mammalia: Xenarthra) to an environmental enrichment program in Villavicencio, Colombia

Duarte

Trujillo²,

Superina

2016

Zoo Biology

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Enrichment is a powerful tool to improve the welfare of animals under human care. Stress-related health and behavioral problems, as well as reproductive failure, are frequent in armadillos (Xenarthra, Cingulata, Dasypodidae) under human care, which hinders the development of successful ex situ conservation programs. Nevertheless, scientific studies on the effect of enrichment programs on armadillos are virtually non-existent. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of an enrichment program on the behavior of armadillos under human care. The behavior of 12 individuals of three species (Dasypus novemcinctus, D. sabanicola, and Cabassous unicinctus) maintained at Finca El Turpial, Villavicencio, Colombia, was recorded using scan sampling during three daily time blocks of 2 hr each before (4 weeks) and after (4 weeks) implementing an enrichment program. Enrichment did not stimulate the armadillos to change or extend their activity period. In general, activity levels were low during the entire study, and virtually no activity was recorded in the morning in any species, neither without nor with enrichment. The latter did, however, improve welfare by reducing abnormal and increasing natural foraging behaviors. All species were attracted by artificial termite mounds. Dasypus spp. showed special interest in cardboard boxes with food, while Cabassous was mainly attracted to hollow plastic balls filled with food. Our results suggest that separate enrichment programs need to be developed for different armadillo species, and that they should be applied during the time of day at which they are most active. Zoo Biol. 35:304-312, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Behavioral responses of three armadillo species (Mammalia: Xenarthra) to an environmental enrichment program in Villavicencio, Colombia

Duarte

Trujillo²,

Superina

2016

Zoo Biology

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“…If a covariate occurred in multiple top models, we assessed its significance with the highest ranked model it occurred in. To evaluate support for our prediction that spatial overlap between a species and wild pigs is greater in seasons with high dietary overlap, we assigned each species to a general diet category: rabbits ( Sylvilagus floridanus and possibly S. aquaticus ) as small herbivore (Carter et al, 2023; Kissling et al, 2014), deer as large herbivore (Johnson et al, 1995; Kissling et al, 2014; McShea & Schwede, 1993), bobcat ( Lynx rufus ) as hypercarnivore (Neale & Sacks, 2001; Thornton et al, 2004), coyote as large mesocarnivore (Jensen et al, 2022), gray fox ( Urocyon cinereoargenteus ; Neale & Sacks, 2001; Wood et al, 1958) and raccoon ( Procyon lotor ; Melville et al, 2015; Rulison et al, 2012) as small mesocarnivore, and gray squirrel ( Sciurus carolinensis ; McShea & Schwede, 1993; Shealer et al, 1999; Steele et al, 1996), armadillo (Sikes et al, 1990; Whitaker et al, 2012), turkey (Dalke et al, 1942; Glover & Bailey, 1949), and wild pig (Kissling et al, 2014) as omnivore. We were unable to examine overlap between wild pigs and red fox ( Vulpes vulpes ), striped skunk ( Mephitis mephitis ), Virginia opossum ( Didelphis virginiana ), and fox squirrel ( S. niger ) due to our sample size criteria.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatiotemporal overlap with invasive wild pigs (Sus scrofa) varies by species and season in a temperate ecosystem

et al. 2023

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Wild pigs (Sus scrofa), which are invasive in many regions globally, can alter ecosystems and compete with native species through interference competition and resource exploitation. Wild pig impacts on other species may increase with greater niche overlap, which could vary over time based on environmental conditions, resource availability, or biological traits like diet, especially as seasonal variation in wild pig diet has been widely documented. A limited number of studies have assessed spatial or temporal overlap between native species and invasive wild pigs, with only a handful simultaneously assessing overlap in these niche dimensions. We investigated the potential for interspecific interactions involving invasive wild pigs in the Piedmont region of South Carolina, USA, by examining seasonal spatiotemporal overlap with other wildlife using N‐mixture models and diel activity overlap analyses. Site use by white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and coyote (Canis latrans) was negatively associated with wild pig activity in the fall, when the species had high diel activity overlap, indicating spatial partitioning could reduce interference competition with wild pigs in this season. Conversely, white‐tailed deer site use was positively associated with wild pig activity in the winter, suggesting higher spatial overlap may be necessary if resources are limited. Site use by bobcat (Lynx rufus) and nine‐banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) in the spring, along with raccoon (Procyon lotor) and wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) site use in the summer, was positively associated with wild pig activity. With the exception of diurnal wild turkey, diel activity overlap between these species and wild pigs was high, although temporal partitioning could have occurred at finer spatiotemporal scales than we examined. Our results collectively emphasize the importance of accounting for seasonal spatial and temporal responses by individual species to invasive wild pigs, with special consideration given to species in seasons where high niche overlap with wild pigs is anticipated.

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“…Mammalian predators of O. palustris include bobcat ( Lynx rufus —Thornton et al 2004; Whitaker et al 2015), coyote ( Canis latrans —Etheredge et al 2015; Whitaker et al 2015), red fox ( Vulpes vulpes —Heit 1944; Harris 1953), raccoon ( Procyon lotor —Harris 1953), and American mink ( Mustela vison —Wilson 1954). Avian predators include northern harrier ( Circus hudsonius —Harris 1953) and barn owl (Cottam and Nelson 1937; Harris 1953; Trost and Hutchison 1963; Blem and Pagels 1973; French and Wharton 1975; Jackson et al 1976; Klaas et al 1978; Adams et al 1986; Parmalee and Klippel 1991; Bendal and Therres 1992; Key 1994; David 1996; Post and Herbert 2012).…”

Section: Ecologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Oryzomys palustris (Rodentia: Cricetidae)

Rose

2023

Mammalian Species

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Oryzomys palustris (Harlan, 1837), the common marsh rice rat, is an Oryzomyine rodent with a tail nearly as long as the head and body, grayish above and white below with long-toed white feet. This account is an update of Mammalian Species 176 on the subject species by James L. Wolfe (1982a), incorporating 103 new references, most published since 1982. Oryzomys palustris, one of six living and two extinct species in this Neotropical genus, is semiaquatic and omnivorous, being highly carnivorous in some populations. It is parapatric with O. texensis in the western portion of its distribution in the southern United States. Oryzomys palustris is classified as “Least Concern” (LC) on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List.

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Food of the ArmadilloDasypus novemcinctusL. from Cumberland Island, GA

Cited by 15 publications

References 13 publications

Behavioral responses of three armadillo species (Mammalia: Xenarthra) to an environmental enrichment program in Villavicencio, Colombia

Behavioral responses of three armadillo species (Mammalia: Xenarthra) to an environmental enrichment program in Villavicencio, Colombia

Spatiotemporal overlap with invasive wild pigs (Sus scrofa) varies by species and season in a temperate ecosystem

Oryzomys palustris (Rodentia: Cricetidae)

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