Tag: mammals

Landmark review confirms 227 mammal species in Honduras, the country’s most comprehensive assessment in nearly three decades

The study also forecasts that as many as 28 further species could eventually be confirmed in the country.

An eight-year international research effort has produced the most comprehensive review of Honduras’ mammals since 1998, verifying 227 native species across 146 genera and 42 families, along with three introduced rodent species. The study, published in the open-access journal ZooKeys, also forecasts that as many as 28 further species could eventually be confirmed in the country, bringing the potential total to 258.

Manatee, photographed by Daniel Gonzalez-Socoloske.

The research was led by Manfredo A. Turcios-Casco of the Asociación para la Sostenibilidad e Investigación Científica en Honduras (ASICH) and the Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz in Brazil, together with 14 co-authors from institutions across Honduras, the United States, Brazil, Guatemala and Costa Rica, including Panthera Honduras, the Smithsonian Institution and the Wildlife Conservation Society. The resulting work spans nearly 200 pages of species accounts, distribution data and conservation summaries.

The project began when Turcios-Casco was a master’s student researching the conservation status of Honduran xenarthrans:

“At that time, I realised something surprising: despite Honduras being one of the most biodiverse countries in Central America, its mammal fauna had not been comprehensively reviewed since 1998.

What began with a team of four researchers grew into a collaboration spanning museum curators, taxonomists, field biologists and conservation practitioners across multiple countries.”

Compiling the review meant verifying more than 300,000 records drawn from museum collections, scientific publications, technical reports and previously unpublished field observations dating back to the 1960s.

Mormoops megalophylla. Image credit: Manfredo A. Turcios-Casco.

“The greatest challenge was undoubtedly the verification process. Every record (and there were more than 300,000) had to be evaluated critically,” Turcios-Casco said, noting that shifting taxonomy meant the team was still updating species accounts just days before the manuscript’s final submission.

Among the review’s more unexpected findings was how little is known about some of Honduras’ most familiar mammals. “For some mammals, including squirrels, raccoons, and several small rodents, there were no modern distribution maps available,” Turcios-Casco noted. Even regionally widespread species, such as opossums and skunks, remain poorly documented within the country.

Nyctomys sumichrasti. Image credit: Manfredo A. Turcios-Casco.
Spilogale angustifrons. Image credit: Manfredo A. Turcios-Casco.
Caluromys derbianus. Image credit: Manfredo A. Turcios-Casco.

Alongside the species accounts, the review provides conservation summaries intended to guide research priorities and policy decisions:

“Because conservation begins with knowledge. One of the biggest challenges in biodiversity conservation is that we often want to protect species before we fully understand them.”
Turcios-Casco

Camera traps photos by Panthera-Honduras – White lipped peccaries.
Giant anteater.
Tapirs.
Puma.

The work also draws on cultural knowledge, incorporating common names used by Indigenous peoples and local communities alongside the scientific record.

“Rather than simply compiling species records, we tried to tell the story of Honduras’ mammals.”
Turcios-Casco

Looking ahead, the authors hope the review will serve as a foundation for the next generation of Honduran biologists.

“In that sense, the review is both a summary of what we know and a reminder of how much there is left to learn about the natural heritage of Honduras.
Turcios-Casco

Cover image:

Howler monkey, photographed by Daniel Gonzalez-Socoloske.

Original source:

Turcios-Casco MA, Castañeda F, Wilson DE, Miller B, Gonzalez-Socoloske D, Ramos EA, King TW, LaVal RK, Ordóñez-Garza N, Ordoñez D, Graciolli G, Thornton D, Martínez M, Estrada-Andino NM, Ávila-Palma HD (2026) Taxonomy, natural history, and conservation of the mammals of Honduras. ZooKeys 1288: 1–193. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1288.129555

In Productive Ecosystems, Larger Animals Capture More Energy Per Species – but Human Pressure is Reshaping the Balance

A global analysis of more than 12,000 bird and mammal species reveals that ecosystems do not share energy evenly across body sizes and human activities influence this.

Guest blog post by Luis Camacho & Miguel Araújo

A global analysis of more than 12,000 bird and mammal species reveals that ecosystems do not share energy evenly across body sizes. Small species dominate in numbers, but in high-productivity regions their abundance is spread so thinly across many species that larger animals end up capturing more energy per species. Human activity compounds these patterns by selectively eroding large-bodied diversity.

How does an ecosystem distribute its energy across body sizes? A new study suggests the answer depends on where you are – and how much humans have altered the landscape. Analysing communities of birds and mammals worldwide, researchers show that larger-bodied species can, on average, capture more energy per species than smaller ones, particularly in highly productive environments. The work also reveals that human impacts restructure these patterns by disproportionately removing large-bodied species from local communities.

The research, led by Luis F. Camacho and Miguel B. Araújo is published in Frontiers of Biogeography, the journal of the International Biogeography Society.

Why body size matters for how ecosystems share energy

Workflow diagram to predict the individual density per km² of mammal and bird species across a one-degree cell grid globally. A. Global density of data points of empirical estimates of species abundance used for model training; B. Example of 80% training and 20% testing blocks used per fold in our modelling framework; C. Global maps showing the sum of predicted abundance per km² of all species across one-degree cells; D. Global estimations of species body mass-abundance relationships (MAR-SPP), individual mass distributions (IMD) and richness mass distributions (RMD). Credit to Camacho & Araújo, 2026.

Ecologists have long observed that larger species tend to have smaller populations: a bigger body requires more energy to sustain, so fewer individuals can be supported. A slope of −0.75 in the log–log relationship between body mass and abundance has been proposed as a null expectation – the point at which every species, regardless of size, commands an equal share of ecosystem energy. Yet testing this idea globally has been difficult because abundance data are patchy across regions and taxa.

This study tackles that limitation head-on. By combining large global datasets of abundance and distributions of species, the authors model local populations of birds and mammals across the planet and ask: is ecosystem energy concentrated in a few large organisms, or dispersed among many small ones – and how does that change from place to place?

What the team did

Using extensive abundance datasets and species trait information, the authors modelled population densities (individuals per km²) for 12,057 terrestrial bird and mammal species on a global grid at one-degree resolution. This enabled them to reconstruct community structure across environments and to examine three complementary signatures of how body size relates to energy and diversity within communities: the body mass–abundance relationship across species (how abundance declines with body size), the individual mass distribution (how individuals are distributed across body sizes regardless of species identity), and the richness mass distribution (how species richness is distributed across body sizes). They then related these patterns to two major global drivers: ecosystem productivity (net primary productivity) and human pressure (human footprint index).

Key findings

Relationship between species body mass and abundance (dark blue), individual mass distribution (light blue) and species-richness mass distribution (orange) in communities across one-degree cells as a function of global gradients of net primary productivity (NPP) (**A, C**) and human footprint (**B, C**). MAR-SPP, IMD and RMD slopes represent the exponent in power law relationships. Panel A shows the NPP effect on MAR-SPP, IMD and RMD values adjusted for human footprint and panel B shows the human-footprint effect adjusted for NPP. In A and B, the graph uses a boxplot format where the white central section represents the interquartile range between 25% and 75%, the central line denotes the median and the shaded areas indicate the whiskers. Outliers are omitted for clarity. The dashed line depicts a reference of slope = -0.75. Boxplots were calculated in intervals of 0.001 for NPP and every unit of human footprint raised to the 1/4 power. Lines were smoothed with a loess regression with a 0.06 span (α). The boxplots were drawn from the mean value per one-degree cell across 10 global datasets. In A and B, thicker lines represent the mean slopes of 10,000 general linear model (GLM) iterations (1000 iterations on 10 data sets), based on random samples of 20 one-degree cells. In C, GLM slopes are shown across the combined effects of NPP and human footprint. GLM slopes (thick lines in A and B and coloured areas in C) appear to depict non-linear relationships because of back-transformation of NPP and human footprint, which were squared-root and fourth-root transformed for GLM. Credit to

1. Productive ecosystems tilt energy capture towards larger species.

As productivity increases, the study finds that small-bodied species become more diverse without a matching rise in total abundance. Individuals are effectively “spread thinner” across more small-bodied species, reducing the average energy share per small-bodied species. Meanwhile, large-bodied species – fewer in number but less diluted by richness – end up capturing more energy on average. The body mass-abundance slope ranged from approximately −0.69 in the least productive environments to −0.35 in the most productive, consistently shallower than the −0.75 null expectation.

2. Human pressure reshapes community organisation, with lasting consequences.

Human activity produces a shift in these relationships that resembles – but is mechanistically distinct from – the productivity effect. Human impact operates primarily by reducing both the abundance and, more strongly, the species richness of large organisms. This likely reflects the well-documented disproportionate extirpation of large-bodied species by human activities, leaving a persistent imprint on how energy and diversity are distributed across body sizes.

3. Energy distribution and ecological opportunity vary independently.

Across the globe, patterns of energy flow across body sizes and the opportunities for diversification (how many species exist at each body size) can decouple. Interestingly, the distribution of species richness across body sizes was more stable across environments than the distribution of energy – yet it had a stronger influence on the body mass–abundance relationship. This helps explain why simple, one-size-fits-all expectations about body size and abundance often fail at large scales.

Why it matters

The authors argue that body mass–abundance–richness relationships can serve as a functional metric of ecological change – capturing not just how many species are present, but how ecosystems allocate individuals and energy across body sizes. This matters for biodiversity assessments because losing large-bodied diversity can reorganise ecosystems in ways that species counts alone cannot reveal. Specifically, these patterns may help improve biodiversity offset strategies and address the risk of underestimating the ecological importance of large-bodied species.

Small-bodied animals still dominate numerically, but in productive ecosystems they are divided among many more species. That dilution changes the per-species share of individuals and, by extension, energy.
Luis F. Camacho, first author

Human pressure does not just remove species; it reshapes the functional organisation of communities. Looking at body size, abundance, and richness together reveals structural changes that standard indicators miss.
Miguel B. Araújo, senior author

Original source:

Camacho LF, Araújo MB (2026) Body mass–abundance relationships reveal uneven global energy distribution across body size classes in vertebrates. Frontiers of Biogeography 19: e164408. https://doi.org/10.21425/fob.19.164408

Hidden in the Headlines: New Study Uses Local News to Assess Wildlife Poaching in Romania

Researchers from the University of Bucharest analysed over 1,100 media reports from 2007 to 2024 to uncover the patterns of wildlife crime.

Graceful, brown-eyed, and a staple of local folklore, the roe deer is one of Romania’s most iconic forest dwellers. But behind the serene image of these animals lies a hidden crisis: a new study reveals the roe deer is the most frequently poached mammal in the country, a finding made possible by turning to an unlikely source of scientific data: the local news.

Because Romania lacks a centralised official database for monitoring illegal hunting and fishing, researchers from the University of Bucharest analysed over 1,100 media reports from 2007 to 2024 to uncover the patterns of wildlife crime. The study, published in the journal Nature Conservation, found that ungulates and aquatic species are the primary targets of poachers, often driven by the lucrative trade in meat and animal products.

Taxa reported in mass media articles addressing poaching events from 2007 to 2024 in Romania. Photo credit: Neagu et al.

“We initially planned to map the scale of poaching in Romania using the data you would expect authorities to keep, things like police files, court records, and hunting inspectorate reports.”

“What we ran into was a gap no one really talks about, since there is no centralised database for poaching in this country. That forced us to rethink the question. Where were these stories actually being told? The answer was the press.”
Lead researcher Andra Claudia Neagu, a doctoral student at the University of Bucharest

The research identifies the roe deer as the most reported victim of illegal hunting, appearing in over 22 per cent of analysed articles, followed closely by the wild boar at 16 per cent. Fish and aquatic species also face high risks, making up nearly 34 per cent of poaching reports, with the highest concentration of incidents occurring in Tulcea County, home to the ecologically rich Danube Delta.

Bear caught in a snare in Covasna County. Photo credit: Silviu Chiriac (National Agency for Environment and Protected Areas, Vrancea County Environmental Directorate).

“A poaching incident in a forest outside a small village rarely makes it into a national statistic, but it often ends up in a local news brief.”

“On their own, these are footnotes. Put enough of them together and patterns emerge: where, which species, which season, which methods. What official records cannot capture, the local press often does.”
The Research Team

The study also highlighted a darker side of human-wildlife conflict: protected species like the brown bear and grey wolf are frequently targeted when they venture too close to human settlements. Researchers found that the poaching of these large carnivores is often fueled by a low tolerance among local communities and a lack of social acceptance.

Bear caught in a snare in Vrancea County. Photo credit: Silviu Chiriac.

Understanding the “why” behind these crimes is critical for reform. Neagu’s team found that poaching ranges from trophy hunting for status to subsistence fishing by families with few legal ways to earn a living.

“It changes almost everything, because there is no single ‘poacher’.”

“Trophy poaching needs stronger enforcement and real consequences. Subsistence poaching needs alternatives that break the dependence on an illegal catch. And casual poaching needs education far more than punishment. Treating these three as the same problem is one of the reasons anti-poaching policies so often fail.”
The Research Team

As technology advances, the team sees both new threats and new opportunities. While poachers use increasingly sophisticated trapping and online sales channels, researchers believe artificial intelligence could be a game-changer for conservation by scanning public platforms for evidence of illegal activities.

“Poachers adapt just as fast as we do. Some of the cases that made it into our dataset only came to light because someone online spotted an image, perhaps a trophy photo, and reported it. A tool trained to scan public platforms for exactly that kind of content could flag dozens more cases that slip through today.”
The Research Team

An improvised trap, often used by poachers (snares). Photo credit: Silviu Chiriac.

Ultimately, the study suggests that the most powerful tool for change is a shift in community mindset. Hotspots identified in the research, such as Tulcea for fishing and Bacau for ungulates, requires more public engagement.

“The biggest barrier to tackling it in Romania isn’t missing technology or weak laws. It is a quiet social tolerance.”

“If we had to pick one thing, it would be breaking the silence around poaching. If you care about wildlife, share what you know with the people around you. The more normal it becomes to treat poaching as a real problem, the less cover it has, and that is where real change starts.”
The Research Team

Research on the study, titled “Wildlife at risk: A media-based analysis of wildlife poaching in Romania,” was led by Andra Claudia Neagu, Steluta Manolache, and Laurentiu Rozylowicz. The work was supported by the Romanian Ministry of Education and Research, CNCS-UEFISCDI, project number PN-IV-P1-PCE-2023-1119 (Harmonia).

Original source:

Neagu AC, Manolache S, Rozylowicz L (2026) Wildlife at risk: A media-based analysis of wildlife poaching in Romania. Nature Conservation 63: 275-298. https://doi.org/10.3897/natureconservation.63.185993

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Remarkable Bat Discoveries from the ZooKeys Archives

These discoveries, ranging from a species rediscovered after a century to new regional records, emphasise the impressive diversity of bats.

Bats are nocturnal mammals that are critical to healthy ecosystems around the globe; they act as pollinators, seed dispersers, and natural pest controllers. In honour of Bat Appreciation Day (17 April), we are highlighting some of the most interesting bats published in our open-access journal ZooKeys.

The following discoveries, ranging from a species rediscovered after a century to new regional records, emphasise the remarkable diversity of bats and the ongoing efforts of researchers to understand and protect them.

The Strange Big-eared Brown Bat (Histiotus alienus)

Adult male of *Histiotus alienus*, captured on the municipality of Palmas, Paraná state, Brazil. (Image credit: Cláudio et al.).

For over a hundred years, the strange big-eared brown bat was known only from a single specimen collected in Uruguay in 1916. This elusive species remained unseen by the scientific community for a century, leading to significant uncertainty regarding its biology and true distribution.

However, a study led by Brazilian researchers documents the rediscovery of this bat in the Palmas Grasslands of southern Brazil, providing the first confirmed record for the country. This finding significantly expands the known range of the species and offers researchers the first opportunity to provide a detailed redescription.

Histiotus alienus is distinguished by its large and oval ears that are connected by a low skin fold. Its fur is a deep, dark brown on the back, while the underside is slightly paler. The rediscovery occurred in a unique landscape characterised by high-altitude grasslands and Araucaria forests, a habitat that is increasingly threatened by human activity.

Learn more: Cláudio VC, Almeida B, Novaes RLM, Navarro MA, Tiepolo LM, Moratelli R (2023) Rediscovery of Histiotus alienus Thomas, 1916 a century after its description (Chiroptera, Vespertilionidae): distribution extension and redescription. ZooKeys 1174: 273-287. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1174.108553

The Flat-skulled Woolly Bat (Kerivoula depressa)

*Kerivoula depressa*. (Image credit: Liang et al.).

The world of bat taxonomy is constantly shifting as researchers use new tools to differentiate species that look nearly identical. Another study formally documents the first records of the flat-skulled woolly bat, Kerivoula depressa, in China.

Previously, many woolly bats in the region were grouped together under other names, but detailed morphological and genetic analysis confirmed that K. depressa is a distinct part of the Chinese fauna, specifically in Guangdong and Yunnan provinces.

The defining feature of this species is its notably flattened braincase. This physical trait is an evolutionary adaptation that allows the bat to roost in very narrow spaces, such as the hollow internodes of bamboo. The bat has woolly fur that ranges from buff brown to dark brown, and it is relatively small in size.

The presence of this specialist bat in China highlights the complexity of tropical forest ecosystems and the need for further taxonomic work to correctly identify and conserve local biodiversity.

Learn more: Liang X, Xie H, Li Y, Huang Z, Li S, Wu Y, Yu W (2023) First record of the flat-skulled woolly bat Kerivoula depressa and the Indochinese woolly bat K. dongduongana (Chiroptera, Vespertilionidae) in China. ZooKeys 1149: 1-15. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1149.85821

The Lesser False Vampire Bat (Megaderma spasma)

*Megaderma* *spasma*. (Image credit: Cook-Price et al.).

Islands often host a high number of unique species, yet their mammalian populations are frequently understudied. A comprehensive survey on Ko Pha-ngan, an island off the coast of Thailand, identifies the lesser false vampire bat, Megaderma spasma, as a new record for the island.

This species is a member of a group known for their distinctive appearance and predatory habits. While its name might sound ominous, it does not feed on blood; instead, it preys on insects and occasionally small vertebrates.

The lesser false vampire bat is easily recognised by its exceptionally large ears that are joined at the base and the absence of a visible external tail. During the survey, researchers found this species in a variety of environments, including national park forests, disturbed forest fragments, and areas with human settlements.

The discovery of M. spasma and eighteen other new records on Ko Pha-ngan demonstrates the importance of conducting biodiversity surveys in tourist-heavy regions to inform better conservation policies.

Learn more: Cook-Price DR, Petko ON, Makchai S, Artchawakom T, Suwanwaree P (2025) Mammal diversity survey of Ko Pha-ngan in Surat Thani Province, Thailand. ZooKeys 1229: 77-102. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1229.118127

The Grey-bellied Dwarf Dog-faced Bat (Molossops griseiventer)

Details specimen of *Molossops* *temminckii*. (Image credit: Ramírez-Chaves et al.).

Some species remain hidden until scientists take a closer look at existing museum collections and genetic data. For years, the grey-bellied dwarf dog-faced bat was considered a synonym of the more common Molossops temminckii. However, a recent revision has revalidated Molossops griseiventer as a separate species.

This grey-bellied dwarf dog-faced bat can be identified by its characteristic greyish ventral fur and specific cranial proportions. Beyond its appearance, the revalidation of this species has major implications for its protection. Unlike its more widespread relatives, M. griseiventer is restricted to the inter-Andean valleys of Colombia, a region heavily impacted by agricultural development.

Because it is now recognised as an endangered species, conservationists can advocate for specific protections for its remaining habitat. This case proves that understanding the true diversity of bats is a prerequisite for effective conservation.

Learn more: Ramírez-Chaves HE, Morales-Martínez DM, Martínez-Medina D, Ossa-López PA, Rivera-Páez FA (2023) Revising the diversity within the Dwarf Dog-faced Bat, Molossops temminckii (Chiroptera, Molossidae), with the revalidation of the endangered Molossops griseiventer. ZooKeys 1180: 237-256. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1180.109091

The stories of these four species remind us that our understanding of biodiversity is always evolving. Through continued exploration and open-access publishing, we can better appreciate and protect the bats that share our planet.

Once again, Happy Bat Appreciation Day from ZooKeys and Pensoft Publishers!

For more articles on zoology, visit the ZooKeys website and follow the journal on BlueSky and Facebook.

A new name for one of the world’s rarest rhinoceroses

Recognizing the Sundaic rhinoceros as a separate genus not only improves scientific understanding but also has important implications for conservation efforts.

A new study revealed significant differences in the appearance and behaviour of the two one-horned Asiatic rhinoceros species, challenging long-standing classifications and supporting a re-evaluation of their status.

A photo of a one-horned rhinoceros standing amidst lush green foliage. — Sundaic rhinoceros (*Eurhinoceros sondaicus*). Photo by Toby Nowlan

The study, led by zoologist Francesco Nardelli and paleontologist Kurt Heißig, highlights how millions of years of evolutionary pressures have shaped the distinct adaptations of the Indian (Rhinoceros unicornis) and Sundaic (Rhinoceros sondaicus)rhinoceroses. The critically endangered Sundaic rhinoceros has a slender skull, a broader and lower back of the head, and a shorter nose and teeth suited for browsing leaves. In contrast, the Indian rhinoceros has a more robust skull and taller teeth adapted for grazing on grasses.

“Adaptations of large terrestrial mammals to various environments are linked to the diversity of food items they can consume, which is reflected in the variation of their dental and cranial morphologies,” the researchers write in their paper, published in the journal ZooKeys. “In rhinoceroses, these adaptations are identified in their teeth structure and head posture.”

The Sundaic rhinoceros, now confined to Java’s Ujung Kulon peninsula, is a browsing species with uniquely polygonal-patterned skin and, unlike any other living rhinoceros, hornless females. In contrast, the Indian rhinoceros is a grazer of riverine grasslands in northern India and Nepal. With deep skin folds and a heavier build, the Indian rhinoceros is considerably larger than its Sundaic relative. It is superseded in size only by the elephant and the white rhinoceros, with males weighing more than 2,000 kg and females reaching 1,600 kg.

Indian rhinoceros (*Rhinoceros unicornis*). Photo by Olivier Bacquet

Fossil evidence confirms that these differences evolved independently over a long period of time. The authors maintain that they represent fundamental anatomical and ecological distinctions and reflect deep evolutionary adaptations.

The behaviour of the two species also differs significantly, with the Sundaic rhinoceros being solitary wanderers and Indian rhinoceros forming temporary crashes.

“Both species possess unique adaptations for survival, emphasising the importance of understanding their systematics for effective conservation,” the researchers write in their paper.

Based on these findings, the scientists propose a more precise scientific name for the Sundaic rhino: Eurhinoceros sondaicus. “Recognizing Eurhinoceros sondaicus as a distinct genus provides a more accurate reflection of its evolutionary history and ecological specialization,” they assert. “This refined classification not only enhances our understanding of rhinoceros evolution but also provides a clearer framework for conservation planning, helping to tailor strategies for the protection of these critically endangered animals.”

Original Source:

Nardelli F, Heißig K (2025) A taxonomic review of the genus Rhinoceros with emphasis on the distinction of Eurhinoceros (Perissodactyla, Rhinocerotidae). ZooKeys 1230: 303-333. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1230.127858

New species of spiny mouse discovered in rainforest

The new species was discovered in Ecuador, and is the 14th of its genus to be identified in the past five years.

A new species of spiny mouse has been discovered in Ecuador, making it the 14^th of its genus to be identified in the past five years. Neacomys marci, which was previously confused with another species, is around the length of a tennis ball, with a long tail, pale suede belly fur and a white throat.

Discovered in the Chocó biogeographic region in northwestern Ecuador, it is the 24^th formally recognised species in its genus, which has seen significant upheaval in recent years.

Researchers Nicolás Tinoco, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador (Quito), Claudia Koch, Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change (Germany), Javier E. Colmenares-Pinzón, Universidad Industrial de Santander (Colombia) and Jorge Brito, Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad (Quito, Ecuador) published their description of the rodent in the open access journal Zookeys.

Neacomys is a widely distributed genus of small spiny or bristly rodents that occupy habitats in eastern Panama and the northern half of South America. Since 2017, studies of the genus have been remarkably dynamic, resulting in the description of several new species.

However, as there are still many unexplored areas in South America and adjacent Central America (Panama), some of the currently recognised species have not been studied thoroughly, and the true diversity of the genus may be underestimated.

The Chocó biogeographic region is considered one of the most diverse biodiversity hotspots in South America, but one of the least studied despite its great size (along the Pacific coasts of Panama, Colombia and Ecuador). The rainforests of northwestern Ecuador have high biodiversity and endemism due to the influence of the Chocó and the Andes Mountains.

Natural habitat of new species of spiny mouse. — Habitat where specimens of *Neacomys marci* were collected in the study.
Photo by: Jorge Brito

Major reviews of museum collections and increased field collection efforts have helped scientists understand Neacomys marci and other species. Molecular analysis is also being used to assist with more accurate animal group identification.

The new species was named after Marc Hoogeslag of Amsterdam, the Netherlands, who was co-founder and leader of the International Union for Conservation of Nature – Netherlands Land Acquisition Fund, which helps local groups around the world establish new ecological reserves and conserve endangered species. The EcoMinga Foundation‘s Manduriacu Reserve, home to this new species, is one of many reserves that have benefited from Hoogeslag’s program.

Original Source:

Tinoco N, Koch C, Colmenares-Pinzón JE, Castellanos FX, Brito J (2023) New species of the Spiny Mouse genus Neacomys (Cricetidae, Sigmodontinae) from northwestern Ecuador. ZooKeys 1175: 187-221. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1175.106113

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Illegal trade and poor regulation threaten pangolins in China

Unpermitted sellers are commonly found illegally selling pangolin scale products for the purposes of traditional Chinese medicine.

Pangolins, unique scale-covered mammals, are drastically declining in numbers across Asia and Africa, largely due to illegal trade. Part of the trade, both legal and illegal, supports the traditional Chinese medicine market, which has attracted conservation attention. The level of demand for pangolins and other animals in traditional Chinese medicine, however, hasn’t been thoroughly studied.

In a new study published in the journal Nature Conservation, Dr Yifu Wang, currently a postdoc researcher at the University of Hong Kong, investigated pangolin scale trade in China, interviewing staff in hospitals and pharmaceutical shops in two provinces (Henan and Hainan). Between October 2016 and April 2017, she and her team talked to doctors from 41 hospitals and shop owners and assistants from 134 pharmaceutical shops.

An adult Philippine Pangolin and her pup photographed in the forests of Palawan. Photo by Gregg Yan under a CC-BY-SA-4.0 license

The research found pangolin scales and their derivatives were widely available in hospitals and pharmaceutical shops across Henan and Hainan Provinces. The legislation in place, however, has not been able to prevent ongoing illegal trade in pangolin products. Her team found that 46% of surveyed hospitals and 34% of surveyed pharmaceutical shops were selling pangolin scale products illegally.

“Existing legal trade allows 711 hospitals to sell pangolin products as medicine with regulations on manufacturer, package, and national annual sale quantity,” explains Dr Yifu Wang. “However, we show that pangolin scales are under heavy demand and unpermitted sellers are commonly found illegally selling pangolin products.”

Processed pangolin scales. Photo by Dr. Yifu Wang

“Quantities of products traded by permitted legal sellers are estimated to greatly exceed the supply capacity of legal sources,” she continues.

This widespread illegal trade, coupled with the very limited legal supply capacity compared to market demand, is concerning. The researchers point to the urgent need to reduce demand from traditional Chinese medicine on pangolin scales and revise the current legal pangolin scale trade system.

“We also highlight the importance of incorporating the traditional Chinese medicine sector into combating illegal wildlife trade and species conservation beyond pangolins,” they conclude.

The researchers plan to continue investigating the pangolin scale market in China to understand the trade after COVID-19.

Research article:

Wang Y, Turvey ST, Leader-Williams N (2023) The scale of the problem: understanding the demand for medicinal pangolin products in China. Nature Conservation 52: 47-61. https://doi.org/10.3897/natureconservation.52.95916

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Genetically-enhanced biocontrols can help fight large invasive mammals

Genetic biocontrols could rapidly eradicate animals like rats, mice and rabbits. Others – like cats and foxes, would however take a lot longer.

But gene drives are not a one-size-fits-all solution

Invasive alien mammals can have catastrophic impacts on native flora and fauna, causing species extinctions and driving profound environmental change. Classical control methods such as poison baiting, trapping, or hunting are currently not feasible on a large scale, which is why researchers are looking for alternatives.

CRISPR-based genome engineering is often seen as a “silver bullet” for pest control. Despite the increasing interest in the development of this technology for invasive mammals like mice, rats, rabbits, feral cats, and foxes, studies have so far only focused on mice.

Scientists have been pondering whether genome editing technologies could help eradicate larger mammals, and if so, how long it would take.

Rabbit. Photo by Mark Philpott licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0.

In order to address these questions, a team of researchers from the University of Adelaide developed a mathematical model able to simulate the impact of gene drives on mammal populations at a landscape scale. Published in the open-access NeoBiota journal, their study is the first to estimate the time it would take to eradicate long-lived alien mammals.

Using CRISPR-Cas9 technology, the simulated gene drive relies on “molecular scissors” inserted into the Y-chromosome that target and slice up the X-chromosome at the right time during meiosis, so that only Y-chromosome carrying sperms are functional and can successfully fertilize the egg. In this way, the drive carrying males should only produce sons that also carry the molecular scissors on their Y-chromosome. Over multiple generations, females will become rarer and produce fewer offspring; as a result, the population size will fall.

Red fox. Photo by Rylee Isitt licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

This “X-shredder” drive has been successfully developed and demonstrated to suppress cage populations of malaria-carrying mosquitos, but has not yet been developed in mammals. The model shows that the X-shredder drive could potentially achieve landscape-scale eradication of mice, rats, rabbits, feral cats, and red foxes, but the probability of success and the time it would take to eradicate them vary greatly.

The researchers investigated the ability of the X-shredder drive to eradicate a population of 200,000 individuals of each species. “CRISPR-based gene drives offer novel solutions for controlling invasive alien species, which could ultimately extend eradication efforts to continental scales,” they concluded.

The method could be effective in small-sized pests, such as rodents and rabbits. The expected time to eradication is 18 years for mice, 19 years for rats, and 48 years for rabbits, with 90% population suppression achieved in around half those times.

However, the results suggest that gene drives are not a one-size-fits-all solution: they might not be so useful in larger species like cats and foxes.

“The probability of eradicating feral cats with gene drives is identical to flipping a coin, 50/50; and provided that the coin lands on the right side, it would take about 140 years to get rid of them,” says Dr. Aysegul Birand, part of the research team. “The probability of eradication is higher for foxes, but the wait is even longer.”

Original source:

Birand A, Cassey P, Ross JV, Thomas PQ, Prowse TAA (2022) Scalability of genetic biocontrols for eradicating invasive alien mammals. NeoBiota 74: 93-103. https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.74.82394

Threatened South American coati found roaming in a large city

Researchers recorded an individual at the Canoas Airbase, one of the last remaining green spaces in a densely urbanized area of a large city in southern Brazil.

You may assume that metropolitan areas are devoid of wildlife, but that is very far from the truth. The remaining green spaces within the urban matrices of large cities can serve as corridors or stepping stones for wild animals. Sometimes, even threatened mammal species end up using them.

On August 12, 2020, a research team from Brazil recorded a South American coati in Canoas, the fourth most populous and densely urbanized city in the southernmost state of Brazil, Rio Grande do Sul. The animal was detected with a camera trap during a Masters research project conducted at the Canoas Airbase, one of the last green spaces remaining in the municipality.

South American Coati at the Canoas airbase in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Video by Diego Floriano da Rocha, Thaís Brauner do Rosario and Cristina Vargas Cademartori

Widely distributed throughout the continent, the South American coati is a medium-sized carnivore living on trees and feeding mainly on small invertebrates and fruits. The species is classified as Vulnerable in Rio Grande do Sul, and it’s considered threatened mainly because of the loss of its forest habitats.

The study that recorded an individual in the urban area was conducted as part of a partnership between the Canoas Airbase and La Salle University. Led by Dr Cristina Vargas Cademartori from La Salle University, the research team was made up of Diego Floriano da Rocha (Doctoral student), Thaís Brauner do Rosario (Masters student), Ana Carolina Pontes Maciel (biologist at the Canoas Airbase), and Duana Suelem Alves (undergraduate student). They described in detail the record and the study area in a paper in the open-access journal Neotropical Biology and Conservation.

The researchers were surprised to find the coati in the midst of a dense urban area. Although the species is not considered threatened in the majority of its area of distribution, its populations have been in decline because of habitat loss and hunting.

“This record confirms the capacity of this species to use environments that have been changed by anthropic activity,” the researchers write in their paper, adding that, because of all the food that humans leave behind, urban environments can in fact favor the establishment of more adaptable species like the coati.

The discovery highlights the importance of urban green spaces for wildlife conservation. “This is very important for defining appropriate conservation measurements for endangered species, especially beyond protected areas,” the authors conclude.

Research article:
da Rocha DF, do Rosario TB, Maciel ACP, Alves DS, Cademartori CV (2022) Record of occurrence of Nasua nasua (Linnaeus, 1766) (Carnivora, Procyonidae) in a densely urbanized area of the city of Canoas, southern Brazil. Neotropical Biology and Conservation 17(2): 111-116. https://doi.org/10.3897/neotropical.17.e81824

In the Atlantic Forest, the lowland tapir is at risk of extinction

Lowland tapir populations in the Atlantic Forest in South America are at risk of almost complete disappearance, scientists have estimated. The main long-term threat to their well-being is population isolation, as hunting and highways keep populations away from each other. Urgent measures need to be taken to connect isolated populations and ensure the long-term conservation of tapirs, warn the authors of a new study published in the open-access journal Neotropical Biology and Conservation.

Lowland tapir populations in the Atlantic Forest in South America are at risk of almost complete disappearance, scientists have estimated. Weighing up to 250 kg, the animal can adapt to most habitats in South America—but its populations continue to decline across its range.

Today, its survival is seriously threatened: it can be found in just 1.78% of its original distributional range in the Atlantic Forest biome, which covers parts of Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. The main long-term threat to its well-being is population isolation, as hunting and highways keep populations away from each other.

Urgent measures need to be taken to connect isolated populations and ensure the long-term conservation of tapirs, warn the authors of a new study on the distribution and conservation status of lowland tapirsin the South American Atlantic Forest, published in the open-access journal Neotropical Biology and Conservation.

The research was done by Kevin Flesher, PhD, researcher at the Biodiversity Study Center, Michelin Ecological Reserve, Bahia, and Patrícia Medici, PhD, coordinator of the Lowland Tapir Conservation Initiative, a project developed by the Institute for Ecological Research in Brazil, and chair of the Tapir Specialist Group at the Species Survival Commission in the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

“Of the 48 tapir populations identified during the study, between 31.3% and 68.8% are demographically unviable (low number of individuals), and between 70.8% and 93.8% of the populations are genetically unviable (low gene flow). Only 3-14 populations are still viable in the long run when both criteria are considered. The evidence suggests that with the appropriate conservation actions, the lowland tapir could be broadly distributed throughout the Atlantic Forest,” says Kevin Flesher.

Lowland tapir. Photo by Alexander Blanco

“Tapirs have low reproductive potential, including a long reproductive cycle with the birth of just one young after a gestation period of 13-14 months and intervals of up to three years between births. Our populational simulations clearly show how, in the case of small populations, even the loss of a single individual per year can result in rapid extinction of an entire local population,” adds Medici.

Kevin Flesher dedicated 15 years to visiting 93 reserves in the Atlantic Forest, talking to people and analyzing 217 datasets, before he compiled the necessary data to design conservation actions that can ensure the survival of tapirs in the area.

The states of São Paulo and Paraná in Brazil have the largest number of remaining populations: 14 and 10, respectively. The two largest populations are in Misiones, Argentina, and in the neighboring Iguaçu and Turvo reserves, in Paraná and Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

“As far as our knowledge goes, there is no evidence of movement of tapirs between these populations,” points out Medici.

The distance between population fragments, however, is not what is stopping them.

“The central problem is the multiple threats they face while crossing the habitat,” explains Flesher. Highways are one major obstacle that limits the access of tapirs to forests with adequate habitat. “For example, the heavy traffic on highway BR-101 (which cuts the Brazilian Atlantic Forest from North to South) is a death trap to wildlife. Tapirs often die when attempting to cross it,” explains Medici.

The construction of highways and expansion of traffic in and around natural areas is a serious threat to large tapir populations that might otherwise have the chance to thrive, like those in Misiones, Argentina, and Serra do Mar, Brazil.

“Roadkill is a significant cause of death in six of the eight reservations in which highways cross tapir populations, and the expansion of the roadway grid in the country threatens to cause population fragmentation in at least four populations,” points out Flesher. This is why finding ways to allow tapirs to cross highways safely is an urgent conservation priority.

The results of the study, however, give cause for “cautious optimism” for the future of tapirs in the area: after decades of dedicated conservation efforts, the situation is starting to improve.

“Despite these continuing challenges for tapir conservation, most populations appear to be stable or increasing and the conservation outlook for the species is better than several decades ago, when the first efforts to protect the species began,” Kevin Flesher concludes.

Research article:

Flesher KM, Medici EP (2022) The distribution and conservation status of Tapirus terrestris in the South American Atlantic Forest. Neotropical Biology and Conservation 17(1): 1-19. https://doi.org/10.3897/neotropical.17.e71867