New data on armadillos (Xenarthra: Dasypodidae) for central Patagonia, Argentina

ABBA, A.M.; NABTE, M.J.; UDRIZAR SAUTHIER, D. E.

EDENTATA

The IUCN/SSC Anteater, Sloth and Armadillo Specialist Group

Año: 2010 p. 11 - 17

1413-4411

Armadillos, with 21 species, represent the most diverse family of xenarthrans. Although there are many studies of these species, topics like local distribution, natural history, behavioral ecology and conservation remain poorly known. Extra-Andean Patagonia occupies a big area and encompasses different ecosystems were human activities have modified most of the region, principally by sheep grazing. In this work we report information about Chaetophractus villosus and Zaedyus pichiy and present new data on the distribution, natural history, conservation and ecology from central Patagonia (Chubut and Río Negro provinces, Argentina). In total, we registered 95 localities (60 C. villosus and 35 Z. pichiy) that corroborate the presence in wide sectors of central Patagonia and didn’t shows, like another mammals (e.g. sigmodontine rodents), differences in their geographic distribution relative to altitudinal gradients or changes in vegetal physiognomy. In added, we confirmed that these two armadillo’s species suffer high rate of mortality for many reason (e.g. hunted for food, killed by dogs, road killed, poisoned, etc.); therefore, these populations are at risk of overexploitation and local extinction. In this context, we think that this basic knowledge will contribute to give the first step in the conservation of these characteristic mammals of Patagonia.