New data on the distribution and natural history of the lesser grison (Galictis cuja) and Molina’s hog-nosed skunk (Conepatus chinga) in northwestern Argentina

TELLAECHE C.; REPPUCCI J.I.; LUENGOS VIDAL E.; LUCHERINI M.; SILLERO-ZUBIRI C.

Oxford

Conferencia; Wild Musteloid Conference; 2013

Wildlife Conservation Research Unit

The Molina’s hog-nosed skunk Conepatus chinga (Molina, 1782) and the lesser grison Galictis cuja (Molina, 1782) have ample distributions in South America. Although these species have been listed in the Least concern category by IUCN, the lack of detailed information on their distributions and habitat associations makes a proper categorization of their conservation status difficult. We present new distribution records (G. cuja: n=9; C. chinga: n=21) of these little-known carnivores obtained using camera trap techniques (total sampling effort of 16143 trap days) and direct observation in the highlands of Jujuy province, northwestern Argentina. These new records extend the present known distributions of these species to the west of the province (G. cuja: 100 km and C. chinga: 60 km) and to higher altitudes (G. cuja: 420 m and C. chinga: 829 m) and suggest that lesser grison was mostly associated to scrubland habitats (71.4% of 7 photographs) whereas 50% of the 20 photos of hog-nosed skunks were taken in rocky areas and 45% in scrublands. Although G. cuja has been described as cathemeral,it was registered only during the day. C. chinga activity pattern was mostly nocturnal, in agreement with the habits described previously for this species.