Microhabitat and diet composition of the Yucatan vesper mouse, Otonyctomys hatti, in southeastern Mexico
Por:
Zaragoza-Quintana, Elisa Paulina, Rodriguez-Santiago, Nallely Veronica, Hernandez-Betancourt, Silvia, Leon-Paniagua, Livia, MacSwiney, M. Cristina G.
Publicada:
1 dic 2021
Ahead of Print:
1 jun 2021
Resumen:
The Order Rodentia in Mexico comprises 233 species, of which 180 are
small rodents. Given their nocturnal habits and elusive nature, there is
little information available about the small rodent species of arboreal
habits. The Yucatan vesper mouse, Otonyctomys hatti, is endemic to the
province of the Yucatan peninsula, Mexico, and listed under the category
of ``threatened''. The biology of the Yucatan vesper mouse is one of
the least known. This study provides information regarding the
microhabitat characteristics and feces composition of O. hatti in the
northern Yucatan peninsula, to acquire basic information about its
biology that would serve as a base for generating conservation
strategies for its habitat. Two O. hatti individuals were captured whit
Sherman traps, recorded at heights of between 4.3 and 4.8 m in closed
canopy sites. The plant groups associated with this microhabitat were
climbers, lichens, epiphytes, mosses and hepaticas. The feces of the
rodent mainly comprised fruit pulp, starch and seeds. Our data suggest
that O. hatti presents a low population density with strictly arboreal
habits.
Filiaciones:
Zaragoza-Quintana, Elisa Paulina:
Univ Veracruzana, Centro Invest Trop, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico
Rodriguez-Santiago, Nallely Veronica:
Univ Veracruzana, Centro Invest Trop, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico
Hernandez-Betancourt, Silvia:
Univ Autonoma Yucatan, Fac Med Veterinaria Zootecnia, Dept Zool, Merida, Yucatan, Mexico
Leon-Paniagua, Livia:
Univ Nacl Autonoma Mexico, Fac Ciencias, Dept Biol Evolut, Museo Zool, Mexico City, DF, Mexico
MacSwiney, M. Cristina G.:
Univ Veracruzana, Centro Invest Trop, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico
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