The mammals of Chile, by Wifred H. Osgood.

Abstract

MAMMALS OF CHILE OSGOOD33 dogs, deer, cricetine rodents, and other familiar northern forms poured into South America and spread over the entire continent, perhaps having some part in the extinction of the southern types, although doubtless other factors were involved. Southern forms also invaded the north but in smaller numbers and mostly to limited areas.Ground sloths and glyptodonts reached Ohio, Kentucky, California, Nevada, and similar latitudes and there became extinct.Opossums and armadillos now extend to the southern United States, and in tropical Mexico there are anteaters, sloths, monkeys, and several representatives of the hystricomorph rodents. The only form of southern derivation which has attained a very wide range in the north is the porcupine now covering a great part of the United States, Canada, and Alaska.These general features of the history of South American mammals are well known, especially to paleontologists, and of course they are responsible for the broader aspects of present-day distributions, but they cover such vast periods of time and so many elements are lacking that interpretation of details cannot be entirely free of speculation. When applied to Chile they furnish the basis for an immediate division of its modern fauna into one series of southern origin and one of northern.Those of undoubted southern origin are the following, belonging to two orders and eleven genera:

Estación Biológica Senda Darwin: Investigación ecológica de largo plazo en la interfase ciencia-sociedad

“…Entre los mamíferos chilenos, y entre los cánidos a nivel mundial, es una de las especies con mayor prioridad de conservación (Cofré & Marquet 1998, Macdonald et al 2004. Hasta hace pocos años fue considerado una subespecie de la chilla (Lycalopex griseus [Gray]) presente solo en la Isla Grande de Chiloé (Osgood 1943, Miller et al 1983, hasta que se encontró una población pequeña en la Cordillera de Nahuelbuta, unos 600 km al norte de Chiloé (Medel et al 1990). Actualmente, es considerado una especie genéticamente diferente y ancestral de los cánidos sudamericanos, que tuvo una distribución más amplia en el pasado (Yahnke et al 1996).…”

“…A pesar que fue descrito sobre la base de un ejemplar colectado por Charles Darwin en 1834, el conocimiento de su ecología e historia natural fue hasta hace poco muy pobre (Osgood 1943, Medel et al 1990). Actualmente, se le detecta en paisajes rurales de Chiloé que contengan fragmentos de bosque nativo, desde el nivel del mar hasta las cumbres de la cordillera costera o de Piuché (650 m) y desde los alrededores de EBSD en la zona norte hasta los bosques de Iñío en el extremo sur de la isla (Jiménez et al 2005 1 ).…”

Food Habits of the Leopard Cat (Prionailurus bengalensis euptilurus) in Korea

“…1993). There is a high incidence of melanism (Cabrera and Yepes 1960, Osgood 1943, Greer 1965a) which, according to Miller and Rottmann (1976), increases with latitude, and is particularly common on Chiloe and Guaitecas islands. The kodkod has rather large feet, and well-developed arboreal abilities, sheltering in trees during inactive periods and climbing as an escape tactic when pursued (Housse 1953, Greer 1965a).…”

“…That specimen (from the Valparaiso area, 33" S) was described as paler than the Valdivian kodkods, with a larger skull and heavier dentition. Osgood (1943), who classified the specimen as a separate subspecies (0.~. rnolinae), remarked on its similarity to the "salt desert" race of Geoffroy's cat., found in the Andes of northwestern Argentina, and speculated that further specimens might arise to link the two cats, although this has not occurred.…”

Body size of Chilean foxes: a new pattern in light of new data

“…D. griseus was introduced into Tierra del Fuego in 1951 to control European rabbit infestations (Jaksic and Yanez 1983). Generally, D. culpaeus inhabits mountains, rugged terrain, or forested habitats, whereas D. griseus is associated with lowlands and open areas (Osgood 1943, Greer 1965. Despite their extensive and broadly overlapping ranges, D. culpaew and D. griseus are usually allopatric.…”