The endangered maned sloth Bradypus torquatus of the Brazilian Atlantic forest: a review and update of geographical distribution and habitat preferences

Abstract

ABSTRACTm am_188 35..54 1. The endemic maned sloth Bradypus torquatus is globally threatened due to deforestation, habitat fragmentation and isolation of populations. Despite increased interest in the species in recent years, information on its geographic distribution is limited and is derived mainly from a few museum species and from a survey based mostly on interviews carried out more than 20 years ago. Information on its habitat and altitudinal preferences is lacking. We therefore compile, update and review all occurrence records of this species using geographical information system (GIS) tools and produce a distribution map for the species. 2. Our compilation totalled 188 occurrence records, of which 130 (69%) were considered confirmed (museum specimens or individuals captured or seen in the field), most of which (62%) were restricted to the states of Bahia and central-south Espírito Santo (29%). The species occurs predominantly in ombrophilous forest (80%), from sea level to 1290m, but mainly (79%) below 200m altitude. 3. We used GIS techniques and the alpha shape algorithm to calculate the extent of occurrence of the species and compared the resulting map with distribution maps available in the literature. We found a great deal of variation in distribution area shape and an almost two-fold variation in distribution area size among sources. 4. We confirmed the existence of a main distribution gap between southern Bahia and northern Espírito Santo and discovered a second smaller gap between southern Espírito Santo and northern Rio de Janeiro. 5. We also confirmed that B. torquatus is sympatric with the common three-toed sloth Bradypus variegatus in a large part of the Atlantic forest and that the two species are syntopic in at least 11 locations.

The Convergent Evolution of Suspensory Posture and Locomotion in Tree Sloths

“…Studies on the anatomy, behavior, and ecology of modern sloths have broadened our understanding of their habitat preferences and use (see recent reviews by Chiarello 2008;Hirsch and Chiarello 2011). For example, anatomical and behavioral studies suggest that Bradypus has better vision than Choloepus (Mendel et al 1985;Piggins and Muntz 1985).…”

“…Related to fossorial habits are the strong, curved claws (Hildebrand and Goslow 2001). These are present in all Xenarthra and must also be assumed to have been present in the LCA of modern sloths as well.…”

Local and landscape influences on the habitat occupancy of the endangered maned sloth Bradypus torquatus within fragmented landscapes

“…The maned sloth, Bradypus torquatus (Pilosa: Bradypodidae), is endemic to the Atlantic Forest hostspot (Chiarello and Moraes-Barros, 2014), inhabiting almost exclusively the dense ombrophilous (evergreen) forests that occur in the lowland and lower montane areas in the eastern and northeastern sectors of this biome (Hirsch and Chiarello, 2012). Five centuries of human impacts have deeply affected the Atlantic Forest, with its extent reduced today to less than 12% of its original coverage and remaining fragments being mostly small, isolated and heavily subjected to edge effects (Ribeiro et al, 2009).…”

“…Five centuries of human impacts have deeply affected the Atlantic Forest, with its extent reduced today to less than 12% of its original coverage and remaining fragments being mostly small, isolated and heavily subjected to edge effects (Ribeiro et al, 2009). The species is classified as Vulnerable in the IUCN Red List (Chiarello and Moraes-Barros, 2014) due primarily to habitat destruction and forest fragmentation, as well as the species' relatively poor dispersal capacity through non-forest areas (Chiarello et al, 2004;Hirsch and Chiarello, 2012). Considering that the presence of a species in a given forest fragment is related to a combination of factors acting at different scales, our goal was to evaluate the relative effect of local, patch and landscape variables on the occurrence of the maned sloth.…”

First record of the brown-throated sloth (Bradypus variegatus Schinz, 1825) in the Cerrado of Minas Gerais, Brazil

“…Only B. pygmaeus does not occur in Brazil (Anderson & Handley, 2001). The pale-throated sloth B. tridactylus occurs in Brazil only in the Amazon (Moraes- Barros et al, 2010Barros et al, , 2011 and the maned three-toed sloth B. torquatus is endemic to the Atlantic Forest (Hirsch & Chiarello, 2012).…”