assessment of body contidion and fecal consistency in zoo-housed anteaters (Mymercophaga tridactyla and Tamandua tetradactyla) in Brazil and Argentina

FARIA ANA RAQUEL G; BUSSO JM; NOBREGA DA SILVA CE; VILLARREAL DANIEL; DIERENFELD ES

Conferencia; Comparative Nutrition Society Meeting.; 2016

Body weight is the most commonly used body measurement to estimate body condition scores (BCS) and nutritional status in mammals, wild and domestic animals. Ruiz and Huaringa (2014) in Colombia suggested the use of BCS as an assessment tool when anteaters are exposed and adapted to captive diets in conservation ex situ programs. Body condition and nutritional state depend on diet, and the study of feces is also useful for diet evaluation. For obvious reasons, it is not possible to provide captive animals with a sufficient amount of these insects, and composing a diet having similar nutritional properties is not easy (Superina et al., 2008). In addition, problems with obesity in anteaters are common in captivity (Stahl et al., 2012). Firstly, we aimed to analyze body condition in zoo-housed Mymercophaga tridactyla and Tamandua tetradactyla in institutions from Brasilia (Brazil) and Córdoba (Argentina) through measurements and photography, as well as develop a standardized fecal consistency scoring system. Secondly, we propose to expand our study to other facilities such as zoos and institutions developing ex situ conservation programs. Materials and Methods are available in supplementary data (see attached document A). Preliminary results were presented at the Comparative Nutrition Society Meeting, August, 2016. http://www.cnsweb.org/. Findings indicated that in anteaters it appears that the abdominal region, arm and forearm may provide the best correlates with BW, unlike BCS analyses developed for livestock, cats and dogs. While observed differences were seen in average BW of captive and wild giant anteaters, no significant differences were found between average BW of captive and wild collared anteaters, although 12.5 % could be considered overweight at up to 10 kg BW in this survey (supplementary data, attached document B). Fecal consistency scores and descriptions resulting from this study further indicate that diets may not be optimal, and that differences exist between the 2 species. Additionally, differences were noted between the feces of captive and wild giant anteaters.