Startseite Distribution update, male genitalia, natural history, and conservation of the stump-tailed porcupine Coendou rufescens in South America
Artikel
Lizenziert
Nicht lizenziert Erfordert eine Authentifizierung

Distribution update, male genitalia, natural history, and conservation of the stump-tailed porcupine Coendou rufescens in South America

  • Héctor E. Ramírez-Chaves ORCID logo EMAIL logo , María M. Torres-Martínez ORCID logo , Jose J. Henao-Osorio ORCID logo , Karin Osbahr , Catalina Concha-Osbahr , Fernando C. Passos und Elkin Noguera-Urbano
Veröffentlicht/Copyright: 19. November 2021
Mammalia
Aus der Zeitschrift Mammalia Band 86 Heft 2

Abstract

The stump-tailed porcupine, Coendou rufescens, is a widely distributed but scarcely documented species inhabiting the Andean region of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and an isolated population in Bolivia. Despite the wide distribution different aspects on its biology and ecology are still unknown. We present an update to the distribution of C. rufescens, and recent observations on the anatomy, natural history, and conservation in Colombia. For this, we described the male genitalia and present data on reproductive periods, plants used and consumed, and threats. The distribution of C. rufescens comprises 12 ecoregions in an area of 376,225 km2 for the northern group (Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru) and 393 km2 for the southern group (Bolivia). The highest elevational record is in Ecuador (4387 m), being the porcupine inhabiting at highest elevations. The anatomy of the glans is similar to that observed in Coendou quichua and constitutes the second species of Coendou with available information on glans morphology. C. rufescens consumes fruits and leaves of potato cider (Sechium edule: Cucurbitaceae) and woody shrub (Bejaria: Ericacea), and usually perches even in exotic species such as pines. Finally, common treats for the species in Colombia are related to hunting pressures, predation by domestic dogs, and roadkills.


Corresponding author: Héctor E. Ramírez-Chaves, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, y Centro de Museos, Museo de Historia Natural, Universidad de Caldas, Calle 65 # 26-10, 170004, Manizales, Caldas, Colombia, E-mail:

Funding source: Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100002322

Award Identifier / Grant number: 001

Funding source: Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100003593

Award Identifier / Grant number: 307303/2017-9

Funding source: Universidad de Caldas http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100007626

Award Identifier / Grant number: 0126021

Funding source: Rufford Small Grants http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100007463

Award Identifier / Grant number: 29491-2

Funding source: The Zoological Society for the Protection of Species and Populations

Award Identifier / Grant number: 7.Rodentia.COL.2009-4692

Acknowledgments

We thank all the curators that allowed the review of specimens under their care, especially to Gladys Reinoso (Universidad del Tolima), Bruce D. Patterson (FMNH), Abelardo Rodríguez (MUD), and Cristian Cruz (MLS). Thanks María Isabel Ramírez and Juan Esteban Cáceres Rave for providing photographs of the individuals observed in El Porvenir (Santa Elena, Guarne, Antioquia), and Boquia (Salento, Quindío); Bernardo Ramírez Padilla for identifying the plant material; Héctor F. Arias, Nestor Roncancio and the staff of “Las Hermosas Natural Park”, don Jairo Acosta (Torre IV) and don Ovidio Ledesma (DMI Planes de San Rafael) for sharing valuable records and images for this investigation. Thanks go to Tinka Plese from the Fundación AIUNAU by providing the photos of the individuals in captivity. MMTM thanks Mario Jijón Palma for his help improving the map.

  1. Author contributions: HERC conceived, collected data, and analyze information. MMTM and FCP gathered information, wrote the distribution section, prepared maps, and supplementary material. JJHO, KO, and CCO gathered information, wrote the natural history section, prepared figures, and supplementary material. All authors wrote the manuscript. HERC and MMTM: equal contribution.

  2. Research funding: Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior – Brasil (CAPES) (Finance Code 001); Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) – (Grant 307303/2017-9); Rufford Small Grants (Grant 29491-2); Vicerrectoría de Investigaciones y Posgrados, Universidad de Caldas, project code: 0126021; The Zoological Society for the Protection of Species and Populations (ZGAP, Germany) for research funding projects related to C. rufescens (7.Rodentia.COL.2009-4692).

  3. Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding this article.

  4. Research ethics: All procedures were in accordance with the national laws. No experimental analyses were performed. All the specimens used were found roadkilled and deposited in registered national research collections.

References

Acosta, L.H., Poma Urey, J.L., and Azurduy, H. (2018). Nuevos registros del puerco espín cola corta (Coendou rufescens Gray 1865) en bosques nublados de Bolivia. Kempffiana 14: 22–31.Suche in Google Scholar

Adebayo, A.O., Akinloye, A.K., Olurode, S.A., Anise, E.O., and Oke, B.O. (2011). The structure of the penis with associated baculum in the male greater cane rat (Thryonomys swinderianus). Folia Morphol. 70: 197–203.Suche in Google Scholar

Alberico, M., Rojas-Díaz, V., and Moreno, J.G. (1999). Aporte sobre la taxonomía y distribución de los puercoespines (Rodentia: Erethizontidae) en Colombia. Rev. Acad. Colomb. Cienc. Exact. Fis. Nat. 23 (Supl. especial) 23: 595–612.Suche in Google Scholar

Alberico, M. and Moreno, J.G. (2006). Puerco espín pardo Coendou vestitus. In: Rodríguez-Mahecha, J.V., Alberico, M., Trujillo, F., and Jorgenson, J. (Eds.), Libro Rojo de los Mamíferos de Colombia. Serie Libros Rojos de Especies Amenazadas de Colombia. Conservación Internacional Colombia, Ministerio de Ambiente, Vivienda y Desarrollo Territorial, Bogotá D.C., Colombia, pp. 293–295.Suche in Google Scholar

Anderson, S. (1960). The baculum in Microtine rodents. Univ. Kans. Publ. Mus. Nat. Hist. 12: 181–216.Suche in Google Scholar

Andrews, A. (1990). Fragmentation of habitat by roads and utility corridors: a review. Aust. Zool. 26: 130–141, https://doi.org/10.7882/az.1990.005.Suche in Google Scholar

Armenteras, D., Gast, F., and Villareal, H. (2003). Andean forest fragmentation and the representativeness of protected natural areas in the eastern Andes, Colombia. Biol. Conserv. 113: 245–256, https://doi.org/10.1016/s0006-3207(02)00359-2.Suche in Google Scholar

Atalar, O. and Ceribasi, A.O. (2006). The morphology of the penis in porcupine (Hystrix cristata). Vet. Med. 51: 66–79.10.17221/5520-VETMEDSuche in Google Scholar

Bachman, S., Moat, J., Hill, A.W., de la Torre, J., and Scott, B. (2011). Supporting Red List threat assessments with Geo CAT: geospatial conservation assessment tool. ZooKeys 150: 117–126, https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.150.2109.Suche in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

Bianchi, R. and Mendes, S. (2007). Ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) predation on primates in Caratinga Biological Station, Southeast Brazil. Am. J. Primatol. 69: 1173–1178, https://doi.org/10.1002/ajp.20415.Suche in Google Scholar PubMed

Cavelier, J. and Etter, A. (1995). Deforestation of Montane Forest in Colombia as result of illegal plantations of opium (Papaver somniferum). In: Churchill, S.P., Baslev, H., Forero, E., and Luteyn, J.L. (Eds.), Biodiversity and Conservation of Neotropical montane forests. The New York Botanical Garden, New York, pp. 541–549.Suche in Google Scholar

Chinchilla, F. (1997). La dieta del jaguar (Panthera onca), el puma (Felis concolor) y el manigordo (Felis pardalis) (Carnivora: Felidae) en el Parque Nacional Corcovado, Costa Rica. Rev. Biol. Trop. 45: 1223–1229.Suche in Google Scholar

Chomitz, K.M. and Gray, D.A. (1996). Roads, land use, and deforestation: a spatial model applied to Belize. World Bank Econ. Rev. 10: 487–512, https://doi.org/10.1093/wber/10.3.487.Suche in Google Scholar

Ciuoderis-Aponte, K.A. and Ochoa-Amaya, J.E. (2009). Meningoencefalitis zigomicótica piogranulomatosa en un puercoespin de cola prensil (Coendou prehensilis). Int. J. Morphol. 27: 1187–1194, https://doi.org/10.4067/s0717-95022009000400036.Suche in Google Scholar

Contreras, L.C., Torres-Mura, J.C., Spotorno, A.E., and Catzeflis, F.M. (1993). Morphological variation of the glans penis of South American octodontid and abrocomid rodents. J. Mammal. 74: 926–935, https://doi.org/10.2307/1382431.Suche in Google Scholar

Dathe, H. (1937). Über den Bau des männlichen Kopulationsorgans beim Meerschweinchen und anderen hystricomorphen Nagetieren. Jahrb. Morphol. mikrosk. Anat. 80: 1–65.Suche in Google Scholar

Delgado-V, C.A. (2007). Muerte de mamíferos por vehículos en la vía del Escobero, Envigado (Antioquia), Colombia. Actual. Biol. 29: 229–233.Suche in Google Scholar

Delgado-Vélez, C.A. (2014). Adiciones al atropellamiento vehicular de mamíferos en la vía de El Escobero, Envigado (Antioquia), Colombia. Rev. EIA 11: 147–153.Suche in Google Scholar

Diario Del Sur (2019). Matanza de erizos en la zona rural de Pasto, Available at: <https://diariodelsur.com.co/noticias/local/matanza-de-erizos-en-la-zona-rural-de-pasto-565488> (Accessed 20 June 2020).Suche in Google Scholar

Duarte, M.R. (2003). Prickly food: snakes preying upon porcupines. Phyllomedusa 2: 109–112, https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.2316-9079.v2i2p109-112.Suche in Google Scholar

Etter, A., Andrade, A., Nelson, C.R., Cortés, J., and Saavedra, K. (2020). Assessing restoration priorities for high-risk ecosystems: an application of the IUCN Red List of Ecosystems. Land Use Pol. 99: 104874, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2020.104874.Suche in Google Scholar

Forman, R.T.T. and Alexander, L.E. (1998). Roads and their major ecological effects. Annu. Rev. Ecol. Systemat. 29: 207–231, https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.ecolsys.29.1.207.Suche in Google Scholar

Foster, R.J., Harmsen, B.J., Valdes, B., Pomilla, C., and Doncaste, C.P. (2010). Food habits of sympatric jaguars and pumas across a gradient of human disturbance. J. Zool. 280: 309–318, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7998.2009.00663.x.Suche in Google Scholar

Godoy-Bürki, A.C., Biganzoli, F., Sajama, J.M., Ortega-Baes, P., and Aagesen, L. (2017). Tropical high Andean drylands: species diversity and its environmental determinants in the Central Andes. Biodivers. Conserv. 26: 1257–1273.10.1007/s10531-017-1311-2Suche in Google Scholar

Gonzalez-Astudillo, V., Leon-Alvarado, O.D., Ossa-López, P.A., Rivera, F., and Ramírez-Chaves, H.E. (2018). Sarcoptic mange in wild Quichua Porcupines (Coendou quichua Thomas, 1899) in Colombia. Int. J. Parasitol.: Parasites Wildl. 7: 95–98, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijppaw.2018.02.002.Suche in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

Gray, J.E. (1865). Notice of an apparently undescribed species of American porcupine. Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. 1: 321–322.10.1111/j.1469-7998.1865.tb02340.xSuche in Google Scholar

Hooper, E.T. (1961). The glans penis in Proechimys and other caviomorph rodents. Occas. Pap. Mus. Zool. Univ. Mich. 623: 1–18.Suche in Google Scholar

Leon-Alvarado, O.D. and Ramírez-Chaves, H.E. (2017). Morphological description of the glans penis and baculum of Coendou quichua (Rodentia: Erethizontidae). Therya 8: 263–268, https://doi.org/10.12933/therya-17-495.Suche in Google Scholar

Linares-Palomino, R. and Ponce-Alvarez, S.I. (2009). Structural patterns and floristics of a seasonally dry forest in Reserva Ecológica Chaparri, Lambayeque. Trop. Ecol. 50: 305–314.Suche in Google Scholar

Lira-Torres, I., Sanchez-Rojas, G., Ojeda-Ramirez, D., and Gómez, F.F. (2014). New Record of the mexican hairy porcupine Sphiggurus mexicanus (Rodendia: Erethizontidae) in the Eastern Sierra of Mexico. Therya 5: 271–275, https://doi.org/10.12933/therya-14-158.Suche in Google Scholar

Miranda, E.B.P. (2018). Prey composition of harpy eagles (Harpia harpyja) in Raleighvallen, Suriname. Trop. Conserv. Sci. 11: 1–8, https://doi.org/10.1177/1940082918800789.Suche in Google Scholar

More, A. and Crespo, S. (2016). Documented records of the stump-tailed porcupine Coendou rufescens (Erethizontidae, Rodentia) in northwestern Peru. Biol. 14: 359–369.Suche in Google Scholar

Moreno, R.S., Kays, R.W., and Samudio-Júnior, R. (2006). Competitive release in diets of Ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) and Puma (Puma concolor) after Jaguar (Panthera onca) decline. J. Mammal. 87: 808–816, https://doi.org/10.1644/05-mamm-a-360r2.1.Suche in Google Scholar

Muñoz Castillo, D.C., Perry Arbeláez, P., Arias-Monsalve, H.F., and Ramírez-Chaves, H.E. (2020). Food habits of the Cougar Puma concolor (Carnivora: Felidae) in the Central Andes of the Colombian Coffee Region. Pap. Avulsos Zool. 60: e20206023.10.11606/1807-0205/2020.60.23Suche in Google Scholar

Narváez-Romero, C., Reyes-Puig, C., Valle, D., and Brito, J. (2018). New records and estimation of the potential distribution of the Stump-Tailed Porcupine Coendou rufescens. Therya 9: 137–146.10.12933/therya-18-581Suche in Google Scholar

Nivelo-Villavicencio, C., Fernández de Córdova, J., Jiménez, A., and Astudillo, P.X. (2019). Aportes sobre la dieta y distribución del Ocelote Leopardus pardalis (Linné 1758) en los altos Andes de Ecuador. Rev. Peru. Biol. 26: 399–402, https://doi.org/10.15381/rpb.v26i3.15715.Suche in Google Scholar

Novack, A.J., Main, M.B., Sunquist, M.E., and Labisky, R.F. (2005). Foraging ecology of jaguar (Panthera onca) and puma (Puma concolor) in hunted and non-hunted sites within the Maya Biosphere Reserve, Guatemala. J. Zool. 267: 167–178, https://doi.org/10.1017/s0952836905007338.Suche in Google Scholar

Olson, D.M., Dinerstein, E., Wikramanayake, E.D., Burgess, N.D., Powell, G.V.N., Underwood, E.C., D’Amico, J.A., Strand, H.E., Morrison, J.C., Loucks, C.J., et al.. (2001). Terrestrial ecoregions of the world: a new map of life on Earth. BioScience 51: 933–938, https://doi.org/10.1641/0006-3568(2001)051[0933:teotwa]2.0.co;2.10.1641/0006-3568(2001)051[0933:TEOTWA]2.0.CO;2Suche in Google Scholar

Pacheco, V., Cardenillas, R., Salas, E., Tello, C., and Zeballos, H. (2009). Diversidad y endemismo de los mamíferos del Perú. Rev. Peru. Biol. 16: 5–32.10.15381/rpb.v16i1.111Suche in Google Scholar

Piana, R.P. (2007). Anidamiento y dieta de Harpia harpyja Linnaeus en la comunidad nativa de Infierno, Madre de Dios, Perú. Rev. Peru. Biol. 14: 135–138.10.15381/rpb.v14i1.2178Suche in Google Scholar

Pocock, R.I. (1922). On the external characters of some hystricomorph rodents. Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. 92: 365–427, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1096-3642.1922.tb02163.x.Suche in Google Scholar

Ramírez-Chaves, H.E., Pérez, W., and Ramírez Mosquera, J. (2008). Mamíferos presentes en el municipio de Popayán, Cauca-Colombia. Bol. Cient. Mus. Hist. Nat. Univ. Caldas 12: 65–89.Suche in Google Scholar

Ramírez-Chaves, H.E., Suárez-Castro, A.F., Morales-Martínez, D.M., and Vallejo-Pareja, M.C. (2016). Richness and distribution of porcupines (Erethizontidae: Coendou) from Colombia. Mammalia 80: 181–191.10.1515/mammalia-2014-0158Suche in Google Scholar

Ramírez-Chaves, H.E., Romero Ríos, C., Henao-Osorio, J.J., Franco Herrera, J.P., and Ramírez-Padilla, B.R. (2020). Notes on the natural history of the Stump-tailed Porcupine, Coendou rufescens (Rodentia: Erethizontidae), in Colombia. Neotrop. Biol. Conserv. 15: 471–478.10.3897/neotropical.15.e56926Suche in Google Scholar

Rangel-Ch, J.O. (2000). La región paramuna de Colombia y franjas aledañas. In: Rangel-Ch, J.O. (Ed.), Colombia Diversidad Biótica III: La región de vida paramuna. Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia e Instituto Alexander von Humboldt, Bogotá, pp. 1–23.Suche in Google Scholar

Restrepo-Cardona, J., Márquez, C., Echeverry-Galvis, M., Vargas, F.H., Sánchez-Bellaizá, D.M., and Renjifo, L.M. (2019). Deforestation May trigger black-and-Chestnut Eagle (Spizaetus isidori) predation on domestic fowl. Trop. Conserv. Sci. 12: 1–10, https://doi.org/10.1177/1940082919831838.Suche in Google Scholar

Romero, V., Racines-Márquez, C.E., and Brito, J. (2018). A short review and worldwide list of wild albino rodents with the first report of albinism in Coendou rufescens (Rodentia: Erethizontidae). Mammalia 82: 509–515, https://doi.org/10.1515/mammalia-2017-0111.Suche in Google Scholar

Salaverry Llosa, J.A. (2006). Macro-ecología de los Andes peruanos: Situación actual y dinámica de cambio en los últimos 20 000 años. Institut français d’études andines, Consejo Nacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación Tecnológica - CONCYTEC, Lima.10.4000/books.ifea.5502Suche in Google Scholar

Sánchez, F., Gómez Valencia, B., Álvarez, S., and Laverde, M.G. (2008). Primeros datos sobre los hábitos alimentarios del tigrillo, Leopardus pardalis, en un bosque andino de Colombia. Rev. U.D.C.A Act. & Div. Cient. 11: 101–107.10.31910/rudca.v11.n2.2008.627Suche in Google Scholar

Segovia-Nuñez, G., de Osma, A., and Ramírez-Barajas, P.J. (2014). Bothrops asper (terciopelo) diet. Herpetol. Rev. 45: 512–513.Suche in Google Scholar

Solari, S., Muñoz-Saba, Y., Rodríguez-Mahecha, J.V., Defler, T., Ramírez-Chaves, H.E., and Trujillo, F. (2013). Riqueza, endemismo y conservación de los mamíferos de Colombia. Mastozool. Neotrop. 20: 301–365.Suche in Google Scholar

Tirira, D. (2011). Libro Rojo de los mamíferos del Ecuador, 2nd ed. Quito: Fundación Mamíferos y Conservación, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador y Ministerio del Ambiente del Ecuador.Suche in Google Scholar

Tirira, D. (2016). Coendou rufescens. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T7010A22213241, Available at: <https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T7010A22213241> (Accessed 15 June 2020).Suche in Google Scholar

Tullberg, T. (1899). Ueber das System der Nagethiere: Eine phylogenetische Studie. Nova Acta Regiae Soc. Sci. Ups. 3: 1–514.10.5962/bhl.title.1733Suche in Google Scholar

Voss, R.S. (2011). Revisionary notes on Neotropical porcupines (Rodentia: Erethizontidae). 3. An annotated checklist of the species of Coendou Lacepede, 1799. Am. Mus. Novit. 3720: 1–36, https://doi.org/10.1206/3720.2.Suche in Google Scholar

Voss, R.S. (2015). Superfamily Erethizontoidea Bonaparte, 1845. In: Patton, J.L., Pardiñas, U.F.J., and D’Elía, G. (Eds.), Mammals of South America volume 2. Rodents. The University of Chicago Press, Chicago, pp. 786–805.Suche in Google Scholar

Weir, B.J. (1974). Reproductive characteristics of hystricomorph rodents. In: Weir, B.J. and Rowlands, I.W. (Eds.), The biology of Hystricomorph Rodents. Academic Press, London, pp. 265–301.Suche in Google Scholar

Williams, R. (2008). Mamíferos de Chaparrí. In: Plenge, H. and Williams, R. (Eds.), Guía de la vida silvestre de Chaparrí. Geográfica EIRL, Lima, pp. 78–85.Suche in Google Scholar


Supplementary Material

The online version of this article offers supplementary material (https://doi.org/10.1515/mammalia-2021-0025).


Received: 2021-02-14
Accepted: 2021-07-21
Published Online: 2021-11-19
Published in Print: 2022-03-28

© 2021 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

Heruntergeladen am 7.10.2025 von https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.1515/mammalia-2021-0025/html
Button zum nach oben scrollen