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1 November 2010 Density and Habitat use by Giant Anteaters (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) and Southern Tamanduas (Tamandua tetradactyla) in the Pantanal Wetland, Brazil
Arnaud Léonard Jean Desbiez, Ísis Meri Medri
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

Giant anteaters and southern tamanduas are often sympatric throughout their range and are both found in the Pantanal wetland. Density, habitat use, selection, and habitat overlap between both species were estimated in the central region of the Brazilian Pantanal. A total of 2,174 km of transects were walked through three different landscapes and five different habitat types. Using strip transect methods, densities of giant anteaters in the study area were estimated at 0.15 individuals/km2, and 0.34 individuals/km2 for southern tamanduas. Densities of both species were highest in forest landscapes. Southern tamanduas significantly selected the forest edge habitat. Scrub grasslands had the highest selection ratio for giant anteaters. Results from this study do not indicate that the two species partition habitat. Deforestation in the Pantanal is predicted to be detrimental to both species of anteaters.

Arnaud Léonard Jean Desbiez and Ísis Meri Medri "Density and Habitat use by Giant Anteaters (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) and Southern Tamanduas (Tamandua tetradactyla) in the Pantanal Wetland, Brazil," Edentata 11(1), 4-10, (1 November 2010). https://doi.org/10.1896/020.011.0102
Published: 1 November 2010
KEYWORDS
density
giant anteaters
habitat use
niche overlap
Pantanal
southern tamanduas
wetland
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