Documented record by Pearson’s Tuco-tuco (Ctenomys pearsoni) in Punta del Este, Uruguay.
Antonio Silveira R. dos Santos
Resumo. O autor apresenta registro documentado de Ctenomys pearsoni, or Pearson’s Tuco-tuco em Punta del Este, Uruguai, feb, 2011. Espécie endemica e ameaçada do Uruguai.
According the modern uruguayan literature about mammals consulted, Pearson's Tuco-tuco (Ctenomys pearsoni Lessa & Langguth, 1983) is a small rodent (Rodentia family), endemic in Uruguay, with distribution restricted in the sandy of platense and atlantic shores that country, and considered locally very vulnerable species (Gonzalez & Martinez, 2010). Worldwide is considered near threatened, but with reference to occurrence in Argentina (IUCN, 2010). Reference is also another author (Nowak, 1991), but this information maybe is already outdated because the modern revision of the genus mentioned by early authors.
Ctenomys pearsoni is herbivorous and feeds plants that eat near the exits from its burrow. Lives virtually all his life into tunnels in the sand dunes. His burrow is formed by a main gallery from 5 to 17 meters with 50 to 20 "holes" (first authores cit.)
On February, 19, 25 and 26, 2011, we had the opportunity to observe behavioral patterns of some of these animals in the dunes in Praia (beach) Mansa, Punta del Este, Maldonado Department, Uruguay (34 ° 57'00 .87 "S/54 ° 56'26 .19" W), with some records in photos (see the end) and video with digital camera, Sony DSC-H55, 14Mega pixels. Video available on www.aultimaarcadenoe.com.br, Sector "Fauna of Brazil Videos" in ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAM: THE LAST'S ARK (PROGRAMA AMBIENTAL: A ÚLTIMA ARCA DE NOÉ,2011).
Actually observed, as regards the literature, this gracious rodent lives in large tunnels, if compared whit its small size (24-28 cm). We saw that each individual has a tunnel, which has several exits, which are always kept open. Indeed we note that they do the various outputs to reach different places to eat, they often saw them leaving about 20 cm out to eat small grass leaves. We also observed that the main tunnel has a "burrow permanently open, while the others are "covered" after using them for food. Another indication that they are side tunnels with several burrows to feed, it is because we saw some signs of old unused outputs, as with the sand flat and hard and little grass around. In turn the outputs that are in use, except the main, are covered with soft sand that push from the inside out with his nose and leave well hidden, but easy to use again for food or even, perhaps, as a places of escape.
The observations were made mostly in the afternoon, at sunset, when we noticed increased activity in the area, that has about 200 meters by 50 meters, where we calculate about 20 individuals.
Due the degree, the endemism, the threat, and their behavior we observe, we believe that disclosure of our documented record of this species, in this simple note, can add some more data on this graceful animal, and help yours population study.
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References
GONZÁLES,EM & JA MARTÍNEZ,2010. Mamíferos do Uruguay. Guia de campo e introducción a su estúdio y observación. Banda Oriental, Vida Selvestre & MNHN. Montevideo.
IUCN. Bidau,C.,Lessa,E.&Ojeda,R. 2008. Ctenomys pearsoni. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/5819/0, consulted 4.3.2011
NOWAK,R.M. 1991. Walkers. Mammals of the world. volII.5ªed. The Johns Hopkins University Press, pg 939-941.
PROGRAMA AMBIENTAL: A ÚLTIMA ARCA DE NOÉ. 2011. Fauna do Brasil vídeos e Sons da Natureza, availables <www.aultimaarcadenoe.com.br>
Photos (by the author)
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