Análise da dieta de Tamandua tetradactyla Linnaeus, 1758 (Pilosa: Myrmecophagidae) do Rio de Janeiro e Minas Gerais, Brasil

Abstract

The collared anteater, Tamandua tetradactyla Linnaeus, 1758 (Pilosa: Myrmecophagidae), is a small mammal predator of ants and termites. Using its nose to locate and its claws to break the structure of the colonies, this animal is able to capture its prey with the tongue. Despite of the knowledge about its diet, there are few studies describing which species are actually consumed by these mammals. The aim of this study was to investigate the diversity and abundance of insect species in the anteater diet and to verify if there is any pattern on prey diversity in the study area, comparing the richness and abundance of collected arthropods. To evaluate that, eight samples of stomach contents of T. tetradactyla, roadkilled on the BR-040 highway between the cities of Rio de Janeiro as (RJ) and Simão Pereira (MG), were collected from 2009 to 2014 and analyzed. Stomach contents were removed and preserved in 70% ethanol until analyzed under a stereomicroscope and identified at the lowest taxonomic level possible. A total of 22,832 specimens were obtained, distributed in 54 insect taxa of three orders: Blattodea (Isoptera), Coleoptera, and Hymenoptera. The most abundant taxa was Isoptera, represented mainly by the genus Nasutitermes Dudley, 1890 with 12,352 specimens found. To compare the similarity in species composition among the eight samples, we used the Jaccard’s test, which showed low similarity between them, suggesting that these collared anteaters eat without any apparent pattern, but according to their individual preferences. However, three species were common among the samples: Camponotus atriceps (Smith, 1858), C. rufipes (Fabricius, 1775) and Cephalotes pusillus (Klug, 1824). Such species are very common in areas of the Atlantic Forest disturbed by human activities, such as cities and roads. Total precipitation in the month of collection was positively correlated with the richness of insect species, suggesting that this factor influences the richness of food sources available for the mammals. The study of the diet of mammals, such as the anteaters, needs long-term studies with a large sample from different sources, such as feces analysis and monitoring of these animals in regions with higher density of individuals. The data presented in this study will serve as a basis for future diet-related studies of these mammals in other areas of study

The collared anteater, Tamandua tetradactyla Linnaeus, 1758 (Pilosa: Myrmecophagidae), is a small mammal predator of ants and termites. Using its nose to locate and its claws to break the structure of the colonies, this animal is able to capture its prey with the tongue. Despite of the knowledge about its diet, there are few studies describing which species are actually consumed by these mammals. The aim of this study was to investigate the diversity and abundance of insect species in the anteater diet and to verify if there is any pattern on prey diversity in the study area, comparing the richness and abundance of collected arthropods. To evaluate that, eight samples of stomach contents of T. tetradactyla, roadkilled on the BR-040 highway between the cities of Rio de Janeiro as (RJ) and Simão Pereira (MG), were collected from 2009 to 2014 and analyzed. Stomach contents were removed and preserved in 70% ethanol until analyzed under a stereomicroscope and identified at the lowest taxonomic level possible. A total of 22,832 specimens were obtained, distributed in 54 insect taxa of three orders: Blattodea (Isoptera), Coleoptera, and Hymenoptera. The most abundant taxa was Isoptera, represented mainly by the genus Nasutitermes Dudley, 1890 with 12,352 specimens found. To compare the similarity in species composition among the eight samples, we used the Jaccard’s test, which showed low similarity between them, suggesting that these collared anteaters eat without any apparent pattern, but according to their individual preferences. However, three species were common among the samples: Camponotus atriceps (Smith, 1858), C. rufipes (Fabricius, 1775) and Cephalotes pusillus (Klug, 1824). Such species are very common in areas of the Atlantic Forest disturbed by human activities, such as cities and roads. Total precipitation in the month of collection was positively correlated with the richness of insect species, suggesting that this factor influences the richness of food sources available for the mammals. The study of the diet of mammals, such as the anteaters, needs long-term studies with a large sample from different sources, such as feces analysis and monitoring of these animals in regions with higher density of individuals. The data presented in this study will serve as a basis for future diet-related studies of these mammals in other areas of study