notes on the distribution and status of some peruvian mammals, 1968

8/18/2019 Notes on the distribution and status of some Peruvian mammals, 1968

1/49

A m e r i c a n C o m m i t t e e

F o r

I n t e r n a t i o n a l W i l d L i l e P r o t e c t i o n

OFFlCERS

HAROLD J. COOLIDGE

Chairman

2101 Constitutioti Avenue

Washing ton. D . C. 20418

VICTOH H. CAHALANE

Vice-Chairman

LEE S. CHANDALL

Secretary und Treasurer

GHACE H. DAVALL

Asst

Secretary- Treasurer

WILLTAM P. HAHIUS. JR.

111. .um

01

Zoology

Uruoersit

y

o]

Michigan

CAHL L. HUBBS

Zoological Societ y o] San Diego

oWAHHEN KINNEY

UENHY LOOMIS

EDWAHD J. MAGEE

Pittsburgli Zoologicat Society

FHANK E. MASLAND. JR.

Academy o l Na tura l Sciences

of Pluladelphia

G. W. MERCK

HOlllmT C. MILLER

Cal ilornia Academy o] Sciences

oM. GHAHAM NETTING

Carnegie Museum

oJAMES A. OLlVER

American Mu ;eum 01 Natural H is to ry

oFAIRFIELJ) OSnORN

New Yorh Zoological Socrery

JOSEPH W. PENFOLD

l zaak Wal lon League o l Amer iea

HOGEH TOHY PETERSON

Wilson Ornuholoeical

Socrerv

GEORGE A. PETIUDES

Tile

witaut»

Societv

WILLlAM H. PHEtpS. JH.

Pan American Sec lion

International Council [or

n ird Preseruat ion

oIUCHAHD H. POUGH

American Ornithologists Union

AUSTIN L. RAND

Chicago Natural H is to r y Museum

S. DILLON RIPLEY

Peabo tl y Mll seum o] Na tura l H is to ry

Vale University

oLAURANCE S. ROCKEFELLER

ARCHIBALD B. ROOSEVELT

GEORGE C. nUHLE

WILLIAM G. SHELDON

American Societv oi Mammalogists

ANTHONY WAYNE SMITH

National

Parks

Association

LLOYD W. SWIFT

World Wildl il e Fund

oLEE M. TALBOT

ALEXANDER WETMORE

Smithsonian Lnetít utíon

MEMBERS

HAIWLD E. ANTHONY

Ecological Societ y 01 America

HUSSELL M. ARUNDEL

Societ

y

tor the Preseruation 01 Species

EHNEST BHOOKS. JR.

VICTOH H. CAHALANE

STANLEY A. CAIN

CHAHLES H. CALLISON

Nat ional Audubon Society

, lAMES L. CLARK

Camp

Eire

Club

01

Amenea

oWILLlAM G. CONWAY

Amencan A ss ocl at ton 01

Zoologtcal Parhs

and Aquariums

HAHOLD J. COOLIDGE

Boone and Croche tt C lub

LEE S. CHANDALL

o1 1I1LIP K. CROWE

JEAN DELACOUR

lnternational Council [or

Birti Preseruation

THOMAS DOLAN IV

Wtlderness Club 01 Philadelphia

Pluladelphia Conseruationists, Inc.

JOHN T. EMLEN, JR.

Uniuersit y 01 Wlsconsin

l lENHY CL1\y FRlCK

mA N. GAllHIELSON

Wtldlile Management Lnsti tute

JAMES C. GHEENWAY. JR.

oC. H.GUTERMUTH

Nortli American Wtldlile Foundation

oE. HAYMOND HALL

Museum

01

Natural History

Uruuersity ol Kansas

o R09 d 01 Directors

PUBLICATION OF THIS REPORT IS JOINTLY SUPPORTED BY THE

AMERICAN COMMITTEE FOR INTERNA TIONAL WILD LIFE PRQTECTION

AND THE NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY

NOTES ON

~

T H E D IST R IB U T IO N A N D STA TU S O F

SO M E PER U V IA N M AM MA L S

1968

by

I. R. G R I M W O O D

Vicuna

SPECIAL PUBLICATION NO. 21

1969

AMERICAN COMMITTEE FOR INTERNA TIONAL WILD LIFE PROTECTION

AND

NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY

BRONX. NEW YORK, 10460


2/49

PREVIOUS SPECIAL PUBLlCATIONS PREPARED BY

THE IUCN INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION ON NATIONAL PARKS

FOR THE AMERICAN COMMITTEE FOR

INTERNA TION AL W ILD LlFE PRO TECTION

1963. No. 15.

No. 16.

1964. No. 17.

1965. No. 18.

1966. No. 19.

1968. No. 20.

* * * * *

Burma Wildlife Survey, 1959-1960.

Oliver Milton and Richard

D. Estes.

Fie/d

Notes

on Wildlife Conservation in Malaya (1961-1962).

Oliver Milton.

Advisory Report on

a

Nat ional Park

System

for Thai land,

1959-1960.

George C. Ruhle.

Advisory Report on Wildlife and National Parks in Nigeria,

1962. George A. Petrides.

Advisory Report on National Parks and

Reserves

for Taiwan,

1965. George C. Ruh le.

Advisory Report on National Parks and

Reserves

for the

Republ ic of

Korea, 1966. George C. Ruhle.

T he P am pas Ga lera s Na tiona l V icuna Rese rve, high in the An des

01

ce ntroL Peru . Oomes tic

lives tock tended

by

lo cal Indian s as we ll as w ild vicu na use the range lorage co nc urre ntly .

B oo k O es ig n a nd V ar iT yp in g b y H en de rs on S er vi ce s, Wa shington, O .e.

FOREWORD

THE AMERICAN COMMITTEE for In ternational Wild Life Protection has long been

interested in encouraging conser vation activ ities in the developing countries. Our

most recent published reports have dealt with parks and wildlife in Asia and in

Africa, so we are particularly pleased to add Notes on the Distribution and Status

of Some Peruvian Mammals to this series as our fnst on Latin America.

Peru has rich natural resources of fauna and flora on both the western and the

eostern slopes of the Andes as well as in the coastal and Amazon regions, with

the greater part of the terrain at an altitude of over 3,000 meters. This great coun-

try al so has extensive areas that are still unexplored scientificolly, The existing

knowledge of Peruvion wildlife is based lorqely on limited collections scattered

in museums in many parts of the world, and on published reports and government

records. These notes by

1 .

R. Grimwood, who ser ved as Technical Adviser on Wld

Life for the British Ministry of Overseas Development, on an assignment to the

Peruvian Servicio Forestal y de Caza, will furnish a useful reference revealing the

wide gaps in our present know ledge. At the same time this report will, it is hoped,

encourage ecological research as well as the establishment of appropriate game

laws, parks, and reserves to help safeguard the endangered and fast-vanishing

fauna and flora of Peru.

Readers of this report will also be interested in the proceedings of the Latin

American Conference on the Conservation of Renewable Natural Resources,organ-

ized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources

and sponsored by UNESCO and F AO, which was held in San Carlos de Bariloche,

Argentina, March 27 -April 2, 19 68. These proceedings are available from IUCN

headquarters at 1110 Morges, Switzerland.

We wish to express our gratitude to Mr. Grimwood for compiling his report on

Peru and for permitting it to be published by the American Committee. We also

wish to thank the New York Zoological Society for generously sharing the cost of

publication.

Harold

J.

Coolidge, Chairman

American Committee for International Wild Life Protection

June 19 69

iii


3/49

CONTENTS

C

o

N T E N T S, continued

FOREWORD iii

PINNIPEDIA 59

Otari idae . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 59

Phocidae . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

. •

INTRODLX:TION .

MARSUPIALIA 7

Didelphidae 7

Caenolestidae 10

SIRENIA 61

Trichechidae 61

PRIMA TES . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 11

Cebidae . . . . . . . . . .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . .. 12

Callithricidae 20

PERISSODACTYLA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 63

Tapiridae 63

EDENTATA 24

Myrmecophagidae 24

Bradypodidae . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 25

Dasypodidae 26

ARTIODACTYLA 65

Tayassuidae . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 65

Camelidae 66

Cervidae . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 72

LAGOMORPHA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 28

Lepori dae . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 28

REFERENCES 84

RODENTIA (Sub-order Hystricomorpha) 30

Erethizontidae . . .. . . .. . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 30

Cavi idae . . .. . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 30

Hydrochoeridae .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 31

Dinomyidae . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 33

Dasyproctidae 34

Chinchillidae 36

v

MAPS

Relief Map of Peru vi

Rivers and Localities, Amazon Region 6

Dinomys branickii ,

32

Tremarctos ornatus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Tapirus pinchaque and Tapirus terrestris 62

Vicugna vicugna

68

Lama guanicoe

70

Odocoileus virginianus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 73

Mazama americana. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..

75

Mazama chunyi and Pudu mephistophi/es 78

Hippocame/us antisensis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 83

CETACEA 37

Susuidae . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 37

Delphinidae 38

Physeteridae 39

Balaenopteridae. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 40

Balaenidae . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . .. 40

CARNIVORA ' 41

Canidae. . . .. .. . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 41

Ursidae 43

Procyon idae . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 45

Mustelidae 48

Felidae 53

iv

AII photographs by Jaime D. Yoakum


4/49

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72

INTRODUCT ION

THE

INFORMATIONcontained in these notes was compiled during the per iod June

1965 to May 1967, when 1 was acting as adviser on wildlife conserva tion to the

Peruvian Servicio Forestal y de Caza, under the United Kingdom-Peru Technical

Assistance Programme, and 1 a m grateful to the Governments of both countries for

permission to publish thís pcper.

These notes are concerned only with the local distribution and current s tatus

of the larger mammals, exclud ing a11members of the order Chiroptera and covering

only the super families Chinchilloidea, Cavioidea, and Erethizontoidea of the order

Rodentia. The notes are a summary of a register containing a11traceable records

of the occurrence of each species wi thin Peruvian limits, compi led from references

in the literature, the reports of government and other officials, museum collections,

hunters' trophies, etc., supplemented by personal observations in the field. At best,

the available information gives only the barest outline of the current distribution

and status of the animal concerned, and in many cases nothing is known of a spe-

cies other than that a lew museum specimens have been collected in a certa in

loca litY. There are large areas 01 the country which 1 was unable to visit and from

which no other Iorm01 records is known. Foremost amongst those is the northern

part 01 the Amazon region, between the Maranon and Amazon rivers and the Ecua-

dorian and Colombian borders, which remains a blank in my knowledge in regard

to almost a11 species. It is hoped thot , by highlighting the inadequacy 01 present

knowledge, thís paper may encourage others to fi ll in the gaps.

In Peru, the conserva tion 01 terrestrial mammals is the responsibility 01 the Ser-

vicio forestal y de Caza, while marine mammals (including fresh-water

íorms

such

as the two species 01dolphins lound in the Amazon tributaries) are in the care 01

the Servicio Pesqueria. When t he Servicio Forestal y de Caza came into being in

1963, there were no nat iona l parks or reserves to lorm sanctuaries

íor

wildlife and

no regulations controlling hunting, other than a prohibition 01 the killing 01 vicunas,

fur secls, and sea lions, and a regulat ion prohibiting the killing 01 certain Amazon

basin forms, including both species 01 peccary and brocket deer, during the period

December 1 to March 31. The last mentioned regulation was introduced to prevent

the mass slaughter 01animals when isolated on islands of high ground during the

annual f100dseason, but it proved to be vírtuo

lly

unenforceable. In May 1967 the

Pampas Galeras National Reserve was created to

íorm

a sanctuary for vicuna, and

the Government is a lso negot iat ing the purchase 01 Hda. Cala Cala as a second

rese rve for the species, with a view to separa ting the hybrid from the pure-bred

stock. In March 1968 the

22,000

sq. km. ManuNationa l Park was set aside to pre-

serve representative populat ions of the fauna and flora of the Amazon region in

their natural state. The Servicio Forestal y de Caza is now selecting areas for the

creation of national parks in the other two major divisions 01 the country-the

coastal region and the Andes-and is considering a number of subsidiary reserves


5/49

or 'sanctuaries to protect certain species which will not be represented in any of

the three national parks. Regulations íor the control of hunting in the rest of the

country are also under preparation. Remarks under the heading oí Status in the

lollowing notes have relevance to those plans , and where poss ible 1have indicated

íf

a species is represented in an exis ting or proposed park or reserve and whether

control of the hunting of it e lsewhere appears to be necessary.

In describing the distribution of individual genera and species, 1have used the

terms coastal region , Andean region , and Amazon region in referring to

the three major ecological divisions of the country.

The coastal region, for the purposes of this paper, comprises the coastal

plain and the western slopes of the Andes . The coastal pla in, for a lmost its

entire length, is a sandy desert varying in width from a few kilometers to nearly

100 km. in the Deportment of Piura and Lamboyeque, which nowhere rises more

than a few hundred meters above sea level. The annual precipitation, which takes

the form of winter mists or light drizzle known as garua , is usua11y under 3 cms.

The cold Antarctic Humbcldt current responsible for those conditions swings west-

ward away from the coast at

cpproxímote

ly 6.00' S., however: so that from that point

northward, rainfall gradua11yincreases until it reaches a maximumof approximately

100 cms. in part s of the Deportrnent of Tumbes. Vegetation in a11but the northern

part of the coastal plain is confmed to the deltas of the few rivers which run west-

ward from the Andes, where a var iety of crops, including sugar, cotton , and fruit,

are grown under irrigation; and to a very few areas where topographical features

cause an unusua11y high condensation of mist and fog. These areas, which are

known as lomas , ha ve a very specialized flora which is usuclly dormant and in-

visible for the greater part of the year but covers the desert with a complete carpet

of green-sometimes almost obscured by f1owers-for a few weeks during the winter

season, between August and November. At 6.00' S. the desert begins to support

patches of light bush and scrub and the vege tat ion gets progressively richer to the

north, with trees becoming frequent in drainage lines in the Talara Province of

Piuro , until i t reaches the stage of true tropical deciduous forest in the Zarumi11a

Province of the Department of Tumbes. In the north of that Department there are

also dense mangrove swamps along the shore and on islands in the mouth of the

Rio Tumbes.

The western slopes of the Andes rise abruptly fromthe coastal pl cín, usually

as bore rock or gravel slopes which climb steeply, and with scarcely a break, to

heights of 3,000 or 4,000 meters in many parts. Trees and bushes grow in the few

valleys containing permanent water, but such natural vegetation has in a11 cases

been much reduced to make way for human settlement. Sparse grass and other low

growths appear above 2,700 m., but otherwise there is little vege tation on western

slopes in the southern two-thirds 01 the country (except íor occasional patches of

cactus, tillandsia, or other xerophytic plants). At a bout 8.00' S., however , isolated

areas 01 woodland occur at various altitudes, and those become more and more

Irequent the lur ther north one goes. Behrendt fo11owsKoepcke in separating such

woods into (a) tropical woodland green at the time 01 rain , which occurs at cltí-

2

tudes of 600 to 1,000 m.and once covered quite extensive areas in the Departments

of La Libertad and Lambayeque belore most oí it was destroyed by settlement;

(b) sub-tropical deciduous woodland occurr ing in widely scattered patches from

altitudes of 1,000 to 2,400 m., which he likens to the ceja de selva zone on the

ecstern slopes oí the Andes; and (e) temperate evergreen woods which are íound

at altitudes 01 lrom 2,400 to 3,300 m. in a lew places north of 7.00' S.

Since 1have included the western and eastern slopes of the Andes in the coastal

and Amazon regions respectively, íor the purposes oí this paper, the Andean region

remains as the mass of high ground between the two. The greater part of that mass

lies at over 3,000 m. and is rather like a couched, but smcll, humped camel in formo

The broad mass of the camel's hindquarters lies in the south, wi th the ridges of

land over 4,500 m. representing its hip bones; its hump and withers are represented

by the single ridge of mountains, reaching heights of over 5,500 m., wh ich runs

through the Departments of Lima and Ancash. The high ground then falls away

and narrows to the dip of the camel's neck at 6.00' S., where the Andes can be

crossed by a pass oí no more than 2,144 m. in he ight; from this point the narrow

neck gradua11yrises again to a head which would he somewhere on the Colombícn-

Ecuadorian border.

1 have used the terms puna , sierras , and cordilleras in referring to the

different ecological zones of the Andean region. By puna , 1 mean the extensive

areas of genera11y level, sour, short grassland which are íound at alt itudes of from

3,800 to 4,300 m. between the main eastern cnd western mountain ranges, írom

Lake Titicaca in the south to a li tt le north of Lake Junin (11.00' S.). The puna

zone is not a continuous stretch of country, but consists of a number of plateaus

divided from each other by intervening mountains, and which are much cut up by

deep gorges. The puna zone is extensively used for grazing llamas, alpacas,

sheep, catt le , and horses; but the only agriculture practised is the planting of sma11

patches of potatoes. Precipitation is not great and usually takes the íorm of short

but heavy ra in or ha il storms. Snow is rare. A simila r, but drier , type oí country

occurs at somewhat lower altitudes between 9.00' S. and 7.00' S., where it is known

as jalna .

1have used the term cordilleras for the ranges of mountains which rise above

the general level of the Andean platea u to heights of 5,500 m. or more

(í .e., prín-

cipally the hips and hump oí the camel) and which are usually capped with glaciers

or permanent snow. At over 5,000 m. the slopes of the cordilleras are devoid of

vegetation, but the lower valleys often contain dense thickets or smcll woods oí

Polylepis

spp.

The word sierras has been used as a general term for the system of deep

valleys and intervening ridges which occur throughout the Andean region and which

carry almost half the total papulation of the entire country. In most parts of the

sierras the result of human pressure on the land is all too obvious, with the im-

poverished soils of the valley bottoms giving poor crops and the upper slopes bare

from overgrazing, and with erosion qullies appearing everywhere. Very httle natu-

ral vegetation now remains in the sierra zone, and what there is of it usually con-

3


6/49

sists of no more than a few bushes or shrubs growing on cliffs or slopes so steep

ihot even goats are unable to reoch them.

1 have included under the term Amazon region 011 that part of Peru lying to

the east of the eastern rim of the Andes-Le., that part of the country which is

directly affected by the Atlantic climate. Rainfall is high, and the Amazon region

is uniformly íorest-clcd from tree line at between 3,000 and 3 ,400 m., down to the

banks oí the Amazon, at just over 100 m. In the south, particulorly in the Deport-

ments ol Puno and Cuzco , the transition írom 3, 00 0 to 500 m. is abrupt and takes

the forrn oí a single escarpment; but in the north the process is more gentle, and

in the Depar tments oí San Martin and Amazonas there are considerable oreas oí

broken ground at an elevation oí between

2,0 00

and

1 ,00 0

m. beíore the lower level

is reached. Below 500 m. slopes ore everywhere less pronounced, and there is

often J íorrnless pattern oí low

hí

lls and ridges beíore the true va11ey bottoms ore

reached. Neor ly a11 the rivers oí the Amazon region ílow north and east to where

the Rio Moranon and the Rio Ucayali unite to Iorrn the Amazon river, but the south-

ernmost part oí the region lies in the basins oí the Rio Purus and the Rio Madre

de Dios, which drain southword and eastword belore describing an are to join the

Amazon halfway down its course to the Atlantic Ocean. Most oí the rivers are con-

tained within their banks throughout their upper courses, but in their lower reaches

they overf low and inunda te vast oreas oí land each rainy season, a lact which al-

íects the distribution oí many mammals. As that low-Iyinq ground is slow to drain,

extensive systems oí permanent tree-shoded lagoons, creeks, and oxbows ore csso-

ciated with the lower reaches oí the Rios Madre de Dios, Ucayali, Huallaga, Mora-

non, Tigre, Napo, and Ycvorí, but there is no open swampland. The Amazon lorests

represent a series of inadequately known or understood ecosystems, which 1 ha ve

somewhat a rbitrarily divided into three zones: the ceja de selva zone , the high

selva zone , and the low selva zone .

The name ceja de selva (Iítero lly the eyebrow of the íorest ) is widely

used to describe the upper limits oí the íorest. In most cases they cover steep

and broken slopes and consist of deciduous semi-tropical woodland, which may

extend right to the top oí the e scorpment. Where the escorpment is high, however,

there is often an upper belt oí temperate woodland, which in turn gives place to

bush and scrub, and eventua11y to grassland, belore the top is reached. As 1 have

used the term, such temperate woodland, as we11 as bush and scrub zones, are in-

cluded in the ceja de selva zone. Its lower limit is more diíficult to define, but for

the purposes oí this paper it can be taken to he at about 2, 50 0 m.

The high selva zone covers a11 that part oí the region lying below the ceja

de selva zone and above 50 0 m., and it is comprised principa11y of semi-tropical

lorests of one type or another. 1 h ave chosen 500 m. as the dividing line between

the high and low selva zones on geographical rather than ecological grounds, as it

morks the íoot oí the main Andean escorpment; but it does coincide with the limit

of distribution of a number of species.

The low selva zone comprises 011 that part of the Amazon region lying below

500 m., including the better drained ·ground along the íoot of the Andes and along

4

th e Brazilian and Ecuadorian borders, as we11 as the low-lying land subject to

annual inundation which is found in the lower bas ins of the major r ivers.

In giving the known distribution of genera and species, 1 have in almost al

cases quoted records by Provinces rather than exact localities, Ior the sake al

brevity and because greater accuracy seems unnecessory in a poper oí thi s nature.

In the case oí the Department of Loreto, however, where Provinces are enormous,

1 have reíerred to the river valley in which specimens were taken or observations

made. This gives suíficient accuracy, since íew records exist from place s more

than a lew kilometers írorn the banks of rivers, which Iorrn the only means oí tro-

versing the country.

1 ha ve relerred to both specimens and reliable reports in recording the

occurrence oí individual species, and ha ve accepted both as evidence oí the pre-

sence oí an animal in a given orea. Under specimens 1 have included known

museum specimens; other specimens co11ected by me; relerences to specimens in

the literature; skins, heads, or other troph ie s seen in the houses oí local hunters

or others; and, in one or two cases, hunters' photographs

0 1

newly kil ed animals.

Museum specimens include those in the Museo de Histo ria Natur al Javie r P rado

oí Lima, and in a number oí university co11ections in vorious Peruvian towns, as

well as those in some other museums; but principally those in the British Museum

(Natural History), the Fíeld Museum al Natural History (Chíccqo), and the American

Museum oí Natural History (New York) - to the staffs oí all oí which 1 wish to

record my gratitude íor the ir k indness and help.

When 1 ha ve stated that an animal is r eliably reported to occur in a certain

loca lit y , it means in nearly a11 cases that 1 have personally visited that loca lit y

and have satisfied myself oí its presence by questioning local residents and

hunters, often being able to confirrn their statements by seeing tracks or other

signs. 1 have, however, in cluded reports írorn the relerences quoted at the end oí

this poper; and, in the case of the valley of the upper Rio Moranon and the north

oí the Department oí San Mortin, 1 have ava iled myself of the knowledge oí Sr. Jose

Linoresoí the Servicio Forestal y de Caza, who spent more than 20 yeors working

in the lorests of that region and whose ass ist ance 1 qrcteíully acknowledge. Per-

sonal sight r ecord s oí living animals are usually quoted as such.

Except where otherwise stated, 1 have throughout lol1owed the nomenclature

used by Cabrera. -I.R.G.

Editor s Note:

The minute sign (') used in this report after latitude figures

represents degree

e

For example,

6.00'

S. represents

6°

S.

5


7/49

r

r

T ~ ~ ¡- r l O ¡

2

-4

-6

8 8

10 11 0

1 2

R I V E R S C M l d L O l IT I E S

1 4 1 14

1 1

A M A Z O N R E G I O N

1 8 C I

I [ [

L. '\do

~18

80 78 76 T 72 --

MARSUPIAlIA

I

I

2'

DIDELPHIDAE

Genus

Ca/uromys

J.

A

Allen - WoollyOpossurns

Local Names.- None known.

Distribution.- Opossums, other than members of the genus

Didelpbis,

are rarely

observed in the wild. Knowledge of their distribution is therefare largely based

on the result s of museum collecting, which has been carried out in only a few

ports of Peru. Specimens of

Caluromys

are, however , known froma large nurn-

ber of localities in the Amazon region, from 4.00' S. to 13.50' S., .ct a lt itudes of

from 150 to at least 500 m. It is therefore probable that the s ingle Peruvian

species of this genus occurs in suitable areas throughout the low selva and

probably in the lower levels of the high selva as well.

Taxonomy.- The species is

Caluromys lanatus

(Illige r) throughout, and Cabrera

attributes Peruvian specimens to the roce C.

l. ornatus

(Tschudi).

Status.- The spec ies appears to be fai rly commonas well as widespread. A small

number of live specimens are exported fromIquitos ecch year, but woolly opos-

sums are not known to be hunted ei the r fa r food or fa r thei r fur, and they can be

but little affec ted by dest ruction of habitat consequent on settlement. There is

therefore no reason to consider them in any way endangered. The species is

represented in the ManuNational Park .

Genus

Ca/uromysiops

Sanborn - Black-shouldered Opossums


Distribution.-

Caluromysiops irrupta

Sanborn, the single spec ies of this genus,

was discovered in 1950 and so far as is known only froma few specirnens , al

taken below 700 m. in Quispicanchis and Paucartambo Provinces of the Oeport-

ment of Cuzco and the Manu Province of the Oepartment of Madre de Dios.

Status.- The area fromwhich

it

is known is l it tle inhabited, so this species is not

endangered by mano Sr. C. Kalinowski, i ts discoverer, infarmed me that he had

recently collected a specimen on the Rio Alto Madre de Dios, so the species

maywel l be present in the ManuNational Park.

Genus

Glironia

Thomas - Bushy-tailed Opossums

1 have been able to d iscover nothing of the status of either of the two species of

thi s genus, both of which were described from Peru: G.

criniger

Anthony from

the confluence of the Rios Curaray and Napa, in the Oeportment of Lareto; and

G.

uenusta

Thomas fromPozuzo, in the Deportrnent of Huanuco.

Genus

Monodelphis

Burnett - Short Bare-tailed Opossums

Monodelphis adusta

(Thomas) is the only member of this genus recarded by Cabrero

as occurring in Peru, where he gives the range of Peru east of the Andes far

the roce M

a. peruuiana

(Osqood) . 1 have nothing to recard on either the distri-

but ion or the sta tus of thi s species, other than that Soukup refers to specimens

7


8/49

from the Ocobamba valley, La Convencion Province, Department of Cuzco, and

from Pucallpa in the Department of Loreto, in addition to Moyobamba, in the

Department o f San Martin , f rom where the Peruv ian roce was fir st described.

Genus Marmosa Gray - Mouse Opossums

Mouse opossums are widespread in the low selva, high selva, and ceja de selva

zones throughou t the Amazon r egion , and ind ividuals can often be seen or heard

at night. Cabrera recognizes no less than 12 species as occurring in that region,

however ( three o t th em represented by more than one roce), and their separation

is almost impossible in the field. Adequate knowledge of the status and distrí-

bution of individual species can therefore be gained only by very extensive col-

lecting. Because of their small size and nocturnal and mainly arbo real hab its,

mouse opossums are not directly threatened by man, but some of the high al ti-

tude species may be endangered by the widespreod clearing of bush .which is

taking place in parts of the ceja de selva and in wooded valleys of the Andes ,

and likewise by the domestic cats of settlers in tho se par ts. Besídes the 12

species of the Amazon region, a thirteenth species, Marmosa robinsoni Bangs,

occurs to the west of the Andes in the extreme north of the coun tr y.

Genus Philander Tiedemann - Grey Four -eyed Opossums

Distribution.- Specimens of Pbilander have been taken near Iquitos and from a

number of localities in the Ucayali and Huallaga valleys, and on the Rio Curanja

at approximately 71.30' W., 10.20' S., in the Department of Loreto. Specimens

are also known from Moyobambo Province of the Department of San Martin, the

Oxapampa Province of the Depcrtrnent of Pesco, and the Quispicanchis Province

of the Depcrtrnent of Cuzco, at altitudes up to 1,500 m. It is therefore proboble

that this opossum occurs in the low selva zone and in the lower part of the high

selva zone throughout the Amazon region.

Taxonomy.-

Pbilander opossum

(L inn.) is the only species of the genus. Accord-

ing to Cabrera, the form at lower alt itudes is P. o. andersoni (Osgood), for which

Yurimaguas (Dept. of Loreto) is the type locality; spec imens f rom higher levels

belong to the race P. o. canus (Osqood) . which was described from Moyobombo.

Status.- Similar to that of

Caluromys lanatus.

Genus Metachirus Burmeister - Brown Four-eyed Opossums

Distribution.-Specimens of

Metachirus nudicaudatus

(E. Geoff roy ), the on ly spe-

cies of the genus, are known from a number of localities in the Ucayali valley

and from the Río Curanja at approximately 71.30' W., 10.20' S., in the Deportrnent

of Loreto, and from higher ground in the Provinces o f Chachapoyas (Amazonas) ,

Moyobombo (San Martin), Tingo Maria (Hucnuco), La Convencion (Cuzco), and

Carabaya (Puno), at altitudes of up to at least 1,200 m. Like Pbilander opos-

sum

and

Caluromys lanatus,

t he species is therefore l.kely to be found in the

low selva zone and the lower part of the high selva zone, throughout the Ama-

zon region.

8

Taxonomy_-According to Cabrera,

M.n: boZivianus

J. A. Allen is the roce in the

south of the country; it is replaced by M .

n. tscbudii

J. A. Allen (descr ibed from

Guayabambo in the Depar tment of Amazonas) in the centre and north.

Status.- Similar to that of Caluromys lanatus.

Genus Didelphis Linn - Common Opossums

Local Names.- Muca, Intuto, Overo, Raposa, Carachupo, Comedreja.

Distribution.- Opossums of this genus are perhaps the most ubiqu itous and com-

mon of all Peruvian mammais, being found in all three r egions of the coost, the

Andes, and the Amozon basin, from the north to the south of the country. In the

coastal region they occur in the cultivated valleys and other vegetated areas of

the western slopes of the Andes, while in the Andes themselves they are to be

found in almost every valley of the sierra zone; and 1 have found the corpse of

one run over by a car at 4,000 m. They reach their greatest numbers in the ceja

de selva and high selva zones of the Amazon region, but they also occur in the

low selva, where specimens ha ve been taken on the lower Rio Ucayali and on

the Rio Curanja near to the BraziÍian border.

Taxonomy.- Both

Didelphis marsupiali s

Linn. and

Didelphis

azarae Temminck

are found in Peru, but the two species are diíficul t to distinguish in the field.

D. marsupialis appears to be restricted to the northern part of the country, and

the southernmost museum-ídentífied specimens of which 1 am aware came from

the Deportrnent of La Libertad. D. azarae , on the other hand, has been reco rded

from the north to the south of the country. It is not known

i f

D.

marsupialis

reaches the same altitudes as D. azarae in areas where their ranges overlap.

D.

marsupialis

occurs in its nominate form, while D.

azarae

is represented by

the race

pemigra

J. A. Allen, of which Minas delInca (Deportr nent of Cuzco) is

the type loca lit y .

Status.- Both species of this genus ha ve a bod reputation for poultry killing. They

are in no need of protection, howevet, and are well able to look after themselves,

even in quite heavily settled areas. D. azarae is present in the Manu Nat ional

Park.

Genus

Chironectes

I lIiger - Yapoks or Water Opossums

Local Name.- Raton de Agua.

Distribution.- The single species of this genus probably occurs in the low selva

zone and the lower parts of the high selva zone, th roughout the Amazon region,

as it is known by specimens or reliable reports from Pucallpa, on the Rio Uco-

yali, and from the Rio Curanja near the Brazilian border, in the Depcrtment of

Loreto; and from higher ground in the Provinces of Moyobambo (San Martin),

Tingo Maria and Pachitea (Hucnuco), Tarma (Junín). Quispicanchis (Cuzco),

Manu (Madre de Dios), and Caraba ya (Puno). Its pre fe rred habit at appears to

be the banks of small streams and quebradas, where the water is usually clearer

and less deep than in the larger rivers. Its upper altitudinal limit is not known,

but 1 k now of one animal being killed at 900 m.

9


9/49

Taxonomy.- The species is Cbironectes minimus (Zimmermann), of which the roce

panamensis Goldman probably occurs throughout.

Status.- Although previously considered worthless, the skins of this opossum are

now beg inning to command a price, and in 1966 Iquitos and Pucallpo merchants

wer e poying fr om Soles/lOO to S/2oo each for them (S/75 = O). Intensive com-

mercial hunting could as readily reduce this species as it has the giant otter

(Pteronura brasiliensisi.

Protective mea sures are therefore necessary.

Cbiro-

nectes minimus occurs in the Manu National Park.

CA

ENOLEST/DA

E

have beenable to discover nothing of the status of any of the species of the

genus Caenolestes Thomas which are recorded as occurring in the north of Peru;

but as they are confmed to the heavily settled Andean region, they may be

thr eatened by ex tensive destr uction o f hab itat.

The same remorks apply to Lestores inca Thomas, which is so far known only from

between 2,500 and 4,000 m. in the ceja de selva zone of the Department of Cuz-

co, near to Macchu Píchu and Torontoy.

Peruvian Indian family with pet vi cuna.

10

PRIMATES

WITHIN Peruv ian lim its, primates are found only in the Amazon region, with the

exception of the genero Alouatta and Cebus, both of which also occur to the west

of the Andes in the forested ports of the Zarumilla Province of the Department of

Tumbes.

Besides being intensively hunted for foad by indigenous Indians and settlers

alike-for the flesh of most species is highly esteemed-primates are subject to

a fo rm of explo itation not suf fered by other an imals: that is, the capture and export

of l o r q é numbers for medical research purposes and for the pet trade. Over 139,000

were expor ted a live between 1961 and 1965; 17,687 of them in 1961,27,095 in 1962,

35,635 in 1963, 34,345 in 1964, and 24,382 in 1966. A breakdown of the 1964 total

into genera is given below. The price shown against each genus -is the price paid

in Soles for l ive spec imens reaching Iquitos (1966 values).

NUMBER LOCAL

GENUS EXPORTED PRICE

Aotus 356 5/100

Call icebus 54 S/150

Cacaia» 89 S/150

Pithecia 81 S/100

A/ouotta 3 SI 50

Cebus

2,574

S/200

It is thought that, even in the case of the most robust species, four or

five

in-

dividuals must die in the course of capture or during the long canoe journey to

Iquitos, or while being held there, for every one tha t survives to be exported; and

the low prices poid for Alouatta and Leontocebus reflect the high mor ta li ty of

animals of those genera during even the few days that dealers have to hold them

between weekly export flights.

It is díff icult to cssess- the effect of this f orm of exploitation, but it is thought

that, even allowing for casualties, the number of individua ls taken for export can

be only a fraction of the number ki11ed for foad, in the case of most species. The

combined effect of a11 forms of hunting has been, however, almost to el imina te a11

forms of primates within a radius of many kilometers of settlement or of the rivers

which constitute the highways of the region. The radius of destruction is increas-

ing yearly, with professional hun ters and tr appers push ing further into virgin coun-

try, and with hunting by remote Indian tribes becoming commercialized as a result

of the visits of skin and live animal dealers. The survival of many species now

seems to depend on how much of their natural territory will remain inaccessible to

waterborne hunters.

Control of the hunting of a11 primates is therefore necessary, as is control of

the capture and export of live specimens. The latter measures should be framed to

eliminate the cruelty from which captive animals now suffer as well as to conserve

the species in the wild.

GENUS

NUMBER LOCAL

EXPORTED PRICE

Saimi,;

Ate/es

Logothrix

Cebuella

Leontocebus

27,353

630

2,081

972

1,958

SI a o

S/200

S/300

S/100

SI 50

11


10/49

Notes on individual genera are given below.

CEBIDAE

Genus Aotus IIliger - Dourocoulis or Night Monkeys

Local Names.-

Musmuqui, MonoNocturno, Pi-to (Campa).

Distribution.-

Specimens

01

the s ingle species of this genus are known from Iqui-

tos, the Rio Yavari Mirim, several localities on the Rio Ucayali, and the Rio

Curanja, in the Department of Loreto; and from the Provinces

01

Chachapoyas

(Amazonas), Tingo Maria and Pachitea (Huonuco), Tarma (Junin) , Huanta (Aya-

cucho), Quispicanchis (Cuzco), and Sandia (Puno). In addition it is reliably

reported to occur in many places in the Department 01 San Martin and in both

the Manu and Tambopata Prcvinces 01 the Department 01 Madre de Dios. Those

record s cover an altitudinal range

01

írom 150 to 1,000 rn., and according to

Walker

et al.,

it has been recorded up to 2,100 m. The species therelore prob-

ably occurs throughout the lowselva zone and the lower levels of the high selva

zone.

Taxonomy.-

The species is

Aotus trivirgatus

(Humboldt). Cabrera recognizes the

race

A. t. vociferans

(Spix) as occurring in the north, but Osman Hill (1960) re-

gards that formas inseparable from A. t.

triuirgatus.

Both authorities recognize

the race A.

t. nigriceps

Do11man(type locality Chanchamayo, Dept. oí Junin) as

the high altitude Iorrn occurring along the eastern slopes 01 the Andes.

Status.-

The nocturnal habits

01

this species probably afford it adequate protec-

tion from hunting, and it is rarely taken unless found in a hollow tree when cut

down. Although found only in family parties, it is widespread and reasonably

abundant. It is adaptable to a variety of habitats, and escaped specimens are

even breeding in the vicinity of Lima.

Aotus triuirgatus

is present in the Manu

National Park.

Genus Callicebus Thomas - Widow Monkeys or Titis

Local Names.-

Tocon, Tacare (Campa).

Distribut ion and Taxonomy.-

This genus has been recorded from almost every port

01 the low selva zone of the Amazon region, but it scarcely enters the high

selva zone , as no record is known íromabove 850 m. altitude. Peruvian speci-

mens have been attributed to a variety of species in the post, and to an even

greater number of roces. Hershkovitz (1963), in his masterly review of the

genus, has greatly

clorífied

the picture. He recognizes only two species as

occurring within Peruvian limits:

Callicebus torquatus

(Hoffmannsegg), which

is found only on the left bank of the Amazon river between the Rio Tigre and

the Rio Putumayo (Irom where it extends into Colombia as lar as the Rio Ca-

quetc): and

Callicebus moloch

(Hoffrncnnseqq), which occurs throughout the low

selva except on the left bank of the Amazon river between the Rio Napoand the

Rio Putumayo. The two species are therefore only sympotric in the small area

between the Rio Tigre and the Rio Napo.

12

Hershkovitz considers

Callicebus torquatus

to occur in its nominate form,

and cites specimens from the Rio Nanay , the Rio Yahuas (the Yaguas tributary

of the Putumayo?), and the Rio Putumayo. He recognizes only three races of

Callicebus moloch

as occurr ing within Peruvian limits:

C.

m cupreus

Spix, with a ronge

01

from the Rio Yavari westward to the mouth

oí the Rio Ucaya li , o fwhich he cites specimens from the Rio Maniti, San

Fernando on the Rio Yavari, and the Rio Yavari-Mirim.

C. m

discolor

1. Geoffroy (type locality Sarayacu, Rio Ucayali), occupying

the rest of the northem part of the low selva zone, to as lar south as

approximately 10.00' S., of which he ci tes specimens fromthe Rio Nanay,

the Rio Pastaza, and the Rio Maranon; Santa Cruz on the R ío Hua11aga;

Saroyacu, Cashiboya, Cerro Azul, Yarinacocha, and

Cumarío

on the Rio

Ucayali (a11in the Deportment of Loreto) ; and from Moyobamba (820 m.)

and Yuracyacu (787 m.) in the Deportment of San Martin; Tingo Maria

(610 m.) and Pachitea (c irca 150 m.) in the Deportment of Huanuco ; and

Puerto Victoria on the Rio Pachitea in the Deportment of Poseo.

C. m

brurmeus

Wagner, occurring in the Department of Madre de Dios and in

those ports of the Depar tments of Puno and Cuzco which lie in the Ama-

zon region, at altitudes up to 650 m., of which he cites specimens from

Marcapota (Dept. of Cuzco) and Condamo

(Río

Tambopota, Dept. of

Puno),

Dr. A. L. Gardner also collected specimens of C.

moloch

on the Rio Curonja

in 1966, which should be of interest in determining the meet ing point oi the last

mentioned two races.

Status.-

1 know nothing of the status of C.

torquatus.

C.

moloch

is nowhere as

common as

Saimiri sciureus

or

Cebus apella,

and ís Iound in much smaller par-

ties, usually of less than ten individucls. It also occupies a smaller range

beca use oí its rest ric tion to lower altitudes. Within that range, however, it is

widespread and still to be found in most areas away from the vicinity of settle-

mento The species therefore cannot be considered as endangered. C.

moloch

is present in the ManuNational Park.

Genus Cacajao L es so n - Uakar is

Local

Names.-Huapo Colorado , Mono Ingles, Puca Huapo.

Distribution.-

The only species oí this genus to occur in Peru is confmed to the

northeast comer of the Amazon reqion, where it is found to the north of the

Amazon river in the basins of the

R ío

Napa and the Rio Putumayo, and to the

south oí it in the basins oí the Rio Ucaya li and the

R ío

Yavar i, extending to

about 7.00 ' S. on the former river , I t i s notewor thy tha t, although the

R ío

Uco-

yali is sometimes said to constitute a barrier to the westward exponsion oí the

specíes , Cerro Azul, which is the type loca lit y of one of its reces, lies on the

west bank of tha t river. Specimens are known í rcm the R ío Nepe, the Rio Yavari,

Maynas on the Rio Maranon, ond íromCerro Azul (near Contamana) on the Río

Ucayali. Although líve animals are quite frequently brought to dealers in Iquí-

tos, 1 h ave been unable to discover where they are caught.

13


11/49

Taxonomy. - The species is

Cacajao rubicundus

1. Geoffray and Oeville, which

occurs in the nominate form in the Napa basin. The race C.

r. ucayali

Thomas

was created for specimens from Cerro Azul, which is the southernmost localit y

from which the species is known.

Status.- I have no personal knowledge of

Cacajao rubicundus

in the field, but it

is said to be now everywhere rare and declining in numbers. The cause of its

decline is undoubtedly hunting, for it is easy to kill and its f1esh is highly

esteemed. The number of animals captured for export may also have s iqnífi-

cant ly a ffected the sta tus of this species, which has a very poor record of sur-

vival in captivity. Both the capture of it and the killing of it should be total ly

prohibited.

Cacajao rubicundus

does not occur in the Manu National Par k , nor

does it appear to be known in the Rio Samiria port of the proposed Rio Samiria

and Rio Pacaya Reserve. It is possible, however, that it will be found in the

Río Pacaya end of that reserve.

Genus

Pithecia

Desmarest - Saki Monkeys

Local Names.- Huapo Negro, Yana Hucpo , Jero (Campa).

Distribution.- The only Peruvian species oí this genus is confmed to the low

selva zone, and 1 have no record of its occurrence at over 60 0 m. lt is known

by specimens from the Rios Yavari, Maniti, Maranon , Ucayal i, and Curanja, in

the Department of Loreto; and from the Provinces of Pachitea (Huanuco) and

Manu (Madre de Dios). It is also reliably reported from a number of localities

in both the north and the south of the Department of San Martin. It is therefore

probably to be found in suitable localities throughout the low selva zone.

Taxonomy.- The species is

Pithecia monacbus

(Geoffroy), which is represented

by the nominate race throughout.

Status.- This species is generally less common than

Callicebus moloch,

and it

is usua11y to be found only in small family parties. It has been exterminated

everywhere near to settlement and to those rivers carrying heavy troff ic, but i t

still occurs in fair numbers elsewhere.

Pithecia monacbus

is present in the

ManuNational Park.

Genus

Alouatta

Lacepede - Howler Monkeys

Local Names.- Coto , Coto Mono, Shianonte (Cornpc) , Numii (Chcyhuito), Omecoy

(Achual).

Distribution and Taxonomy.- It is probable that two species of this genus occur

in Peru.

The reddish-colored

Alouatta seniculus

(Linn.) is known by specimens or

rel iable reports from the Rios Nepe, Maranon, Huallaga, Ucayali, and Curanja,

in the Department of Loreto; and from the Provinces of San Martinand Mariscal

Caceres (San Martin); Tingo Maria and Pachitea (Huanuco); Oxapampa (Pesco):

Jauja (Jun in); La Convencion, Paucartambo, and Quispicanchis (Cuzco); Sandia

(Puno); and Manu (Madre de Dios). These records cover a range of from 200 m.

to 1 ,2 00 m. It is therefore probable that this species occurs throughout the low

14

selva zone and in the lower part of the high selva zone, from the north to the

south of the country. It is represented by the nominate race throughout.

Some form of

Alouatta

is also locally reported to occur to the west of the

Andes in the Zarumilla Province of the Department of Tumbes. I have not seen

the animal myself, nor do I know of any specimen having been collected. It is

universally said to be block in color, however, so could poss ibly be

Alouatta

palliata

(Gray), of which the roce A.

p. aequatorialis

Festa is known to occur

on the coast of Ecuador some way to the north.

Status.-

Alouatta seniculus

is hunted for Iood, but íts f1esh is not highly esteemed.

It has disappeared from t he vicinity of 011settlement and from the banks of the

major rivers, where its habit of coming down to drink in the middle of the day

makes it particularly vulnerable. In other areas the species still seems to be

fairly common and can be found in parties of up to 25 indi víducls, although I

have nowhere found it as abundant as it is in the northern end of its range in

Colombia. However, the ease with which the presence of this species can be

detected by its loud call s at morning and evening (and by its strong smell, on

occasions) may give a false impression of its abundance relative to other mon-

keys. The fact that the species is not restricted to the low country means rhct

some parts of its range remain undisturbed by water borne hunters.

Alouatta

seniculus

is present in the ManuNational Park.

I know httle of the status of the coastal representative of this qenus , but

the area it occupies is comporctively smcll and is much visited by hunters.

Genus

Cebus

Erxleben - Capuchin Monkeys

The two species of this genus that occur in Peru are treated separately below.

Cebus apella

(linn.) - Brown or Tufted Capuchin Monkey

Local Names.- Machin Negro, MonoNegro, Yana Machin, Shito (Campa).

Distribution.- This species is confined to the Amazon region, where it is known by

specimens or reliable reports fromalmost a11parts of the Department of Loreto;

and from the Provinces of Moyobamba, San Martin, and Mariscal Caceres (San

Martin.); Chachapoyas (Amazonas); Tingo Maria and Pachitea

(Hucnuco):

Oxo-

pompo (Pesco): Tarma (Junin); La Convención, Paucartambo, and Quispicanchis

(Cuzco); Sandia (Puno); and Manuand Tornbopoto (Madre de Dios). A specimen

from 40 miles east of Chachapoyas was taken at just over 1,500 rn., and the

species is loca11y reported to occur at over

1 ,40 0

m. in the Oxcpcrnpo Province

and in several localities in the Paucartambo and Quispicanchis Provinces. It

therefore seems probable that

Cebus apella

occurs throughout the low selva

zone and up to about 1 ,50 0 m. in the high selva zone, from the north to the south

of the country.

Taxonomy.- Osman Hi11recognizes four roces of C.

apella

as occurring in Peru:

c.

a macrocepbalus

Spix in the main Amazon valley, extending as far west as

Chachapoyas; C.

a [atuellus

(Linn.), possibly occurring on the eastern slopes

of the Andes in the extreme north; C.

a maronensis

von Pusch (type locality

15


12/49

Hamburgo, on the Rio Samiria), to the south of C.

a. macrocepbalus ;

and C.

a.

peruanus Thomas (type loca lit y Marcapata, Oept. of Cuzco). in the extreme

south , in the Oepartments of Cuzco, Puno, and Madre de Dios. In Cabrera's

view, however, C.

a.

[atuellus , C.

a.maronensi s ,

and C.

a. peruanus

are insepar-

able from C. a. macrocephalus, which he therefore regards as the form throughout.

Status.- Besides being one of the most widespread of Peruvian monkeys, Cebus

apella is also one of the commonest, being almost equal to Saimiri sciureus in

general abundance. Like that species, if has not who11y disappeared from a11

areas of settlement, and it is frequently accused of raiding crops and gardens.

It, too, is found in large parties of up to 30 individuals. Together with Saimiri

sciureus,

this species forms the basis of the export trade in live monkeys for

medical research purposes; and of the 2,574 animals of that genus tha t were

exported in 1964, 2,518 were recorded as being C.

apella.

(Those figures are

unlikely to be accurate because both species of Cebus are often lumped together

for trade purposes. At least 90% of a11

Cebus

seen in holding pens awaiting

export havebeen of this species, however.) Only young animals are exported,

any adult specimens that are caught presumably being

killed,

Oespite the dr ain

on numbers represented by both capture operations and hunting for food, the

species is in no danger of extinction and is sti11 abundant in most parts of its

range.

Cebus apella

is present in the Manu National Park.

Cebus a bifrons (Hu mb old t) - White-fronted Capuchin Monkey

Local Names.- Mach in Blanco, Yurac Machin, Cochire.

Distribution.- This species is found in the Amazon region, and almost certainly

occurs in the coostal region as well. In the Amazon region, C. albifrons occu-

pies the same over-a11 range as C. apella. Its local distribution is patchy, how-

ever, and it is apparently absent from many areas where the latter species is

common. In general. it is reported not to occur at quite such high altitudes as

C. apella, but a specimen is known fram 1,500 m. on the Rio Cosireni, La Con-

vencion Province, Oepartment of Cuzco.

In the coastal region, some form of machin is locally reported to be p re-

sent thraughout the forested parts of the Zarumi11a Prav ince of the Oepartment

of Tumbes. As far as 1 am aware, no specimen of it has ever been critica11y

examined, but as C. apella is nowhere known to occur to the west of the Andes,

the Tumbes monkey is most likely to be C. albifrons.

Taxonomy._

Cabrera fo11ows Hershkovitz (1949) in limiting the number of races

occu rring in the Peruvian Amazon region lo three. Of those, he gives C. a. uni-

color

Spix a range covering the basins of the Rio Ucayali and the Rio Huallaga;

and Hershkovitz cites specirnens of that form Ir orn Chicosa, Cumaria, Masisea,

Cerro Azul, and Contamana (a11 on the Rio Ucayali) and fram Puerto Victoria

(on the Rio Pachitea) and Tingo Maria. C. a.

cuscinus

Thomas (type locality

Callanga, Rio Pirupini, Oept. of Cuzco) is g iven the range of the valleys of the

Rio Urubamba and the Rio Alto Madre de Dios, to which form Hershkovitz refers

a specimen from Uviní, at 1,500 m. on the Rio Urubamba.

16

C.

a. yuracus

Hershkovitz is said to occur between the Rio Maranon and the

Rio Napa, Hershkovi tz mentioning specimens fr om a number of localities on the

latter river. If C. albifrons does occur in the coostal region, it is most likely to

be in the form C.

a. aequatorialis

J. A. Allen, which is known from the cocst of

Ecuador a good deal further north.

Status.- It is dífficult to assess the status of C.

albilrons ,

as it cannot always be

distinguished from C.

apella

in the field. It is generally reported to be less com-

mon than the latter species, however; and the very much sma11er numbers of it

that are exported may be a true reflection of the relative abundance of the two

species-at least in the ar eas where capture operations are carried out.

Genus

Saimiri

Voigt - Squirrel Monkeys

Local Names.- Fraile, Hueso, Sillere (Campo).

Distribution.-

Monkeys of this genus have been recorded from a11 parts of the low

selva zone of the Amazon region, from the north to the south of the country.

They also occur in the lower parts of the high selva zone, up to heights usua11y

rather less than those attained by

Cebus apella.

In some localities, however,

individual bands are said to move up to nearly 2,000 m. when certain fruits are

ripening.

Taxonomy.-

Cabrera recognizes only one species, Saimiri

sciureus

(Lírm.). as

occurring in the whole of South America, of which he regards the form in north-

ern Peru to be S.

c. macrodon

Elliott, with S.

c. nigriceps

Thomas (type loca lit y

Cosnipata, Oept. of Cuzco) replacing it in the basins of the Ucayali and Uru-

bamba in the south. Osman Hilllimits the range of S. sciureus to the area north

of the Amazon and Rio Maranon, and recognizes a separate specíes, S.

usted

l.

Geoffroy, as occurring to the south. He sta les , however, tha t that species is

of only doubtful validity; and Cabrera regards it as a synonym of S.

c. nigriceps.

Status.- This is undoubtedly the most common species of monkey in Peru. It is

gregarious and somewhat nomadic in habits, and is still to be found in bands of

up to 30 or 40 individuals in most parts of its range. It has survived in many

of the less densely populated areas of settlement, where ít occasionally does

damage to crops, being particular ly destructive in cacao plantations. Over

25,000 immature animals are exported annua11y for medical research purposes,

and many more thousands must die in the course of capture and transportation.

The species cannot, however, be regarded as immediately endangered. Saimiri

sciureus

is present in the Manu Nat iona l Park.

Genus A te/es Geo ff ro y - Spider Monkeys

The two species of this genus that occur in Peru are treated separately below.

Ate/es

be zebuth

Geoffroy - Long-hai red or White-bel lied Spider Monkey

Local Name.- Maquisapa.

Distribut ion.- This species is confined to the northern part of the Amazon region,

where it occurs in both the low selva zone and the high selva zone, up to cltí-

17


13/49

tudes of at least 1,000 m. It is known by specimens from the Río Napa and the

Rio Tigre, the Amazon at Iquitos, the Rio Maranon and the Rio Samiria, and

Irom Sarayacu on the lower Río Ucayali, as well as from several localities in

the Moyobamba and Lamas Provinces of the Deportrnent of San Martin. Its

southern limit is dífficult to determine, but

ít

reaches to at least

7 .00 '

S. in the

va11ey of the Rio Ucayali, and is rather dubiously reported to occur even further

upstream.

T axonomy.- Ate/es bel zebuib ís known only in the nominate form within Peruvian

limits.

Status.- Members of the genus

Ate/es,

together with

Lagotbrix,

are the most highly

prized of a11 monkeys for human food. As a result, this species has suffered

severely from huntinq throughout its range. It has disappeared from many ports

of

it,

and ís said to be on the decline everywhere else. Ate/es belzebuib is

present in the proposed Hio Samiria and Hio Pacaya Reserve.

Ate es paniscus (Linn.) - Black Spider ~nkey

Local Names.- Maquisapa, Tuero (Campa).

Distribut ion.- This species is found throughout the low selva zone and the lower

levels of the high selva zone, in the southern part of the Amazon region. It ís

known by spec imens or reliable reports from Chicosa

( l0 .50 '

S.) and Cerro Azul

(7 .20 '

S.) on the Rio Ucayali, and from the Rio Curanja (a11 in the Department of

Loreto), and from the Provinces of Mariscal Caceres (San Martin); Tingo Maria

and Pachitea (Huanuco); Oxapampa (Paseo); Jauja (Ayacucho); La Convencion,

Calca, Paucartambo, and Quispicanchis (Cuzco); Carobaya and Sandia (Puno):

and Manu and Tambopata (Madre de Dios). The species occurs at greater height

than any other monkey except

Lagotbrix

and is regularly reported at altitudes of

from 1 ,70 0 to 1 ,80 0 m.

1 have been unable to determine where and to what extent A. paniscus over-

laps with A.

be/zebuth,

but that there ís an overlap (or was one at least in íor-

mer times) is indicated by Osman Hi11's reference to a specimen of A. paniscus

collected near the confluence of the Río Yavari with the Amazon, in 1848; to

Bartlett fmdínq that species In forests bordering the Río Ucayali and in the

lower d istricts bordering the Peruvian Amczon in 187 1 ; and to Cabrera (1 91 7)

listing A.

paniscus

from Peruate on the Rio Maranon. Nowadays the two species

are said to cccur in close proximity to one another in the neighborhood of Con-

tamana, on the Bío Ucayali, but 1 have not been able to check that information.

Tax onomy.- Ate/es paniscus ís represented by the black-faced race A. p. chamek

(Humboldt) throughout.

Status.- Thís species has probably fared better over-a11 than the preceding one,

S10ce considerable ports of its range are remote from settlement and inccces-

s ible to waterborne hunters. Nevertheless, it has suffered severely wherever

ít

habs come into contact with civilization, and

it

has disappeared from a great

num er of its former haunts.

Ate/es panis' . .

CUS

lS present 10 the Manu Notioncl Park.

18

Genus Lagothrix Geoffroy - Woolly Monkeys

The three species of this genus that occur in Peru are treated separately below.

Lagothrix cana

(Geoffroy) - SmokeyWoolly Monkey

Local Names.- Choro, Uche-to (Campa), Zuruu (Chcyhui tc), Chuaa (Achucl ).

Distribut ion.- This species is found in both the low selva zone and the lower

levels of the high selva zone in almost a11 parts of the Amazon region. In the

Department of Loreto it is known by specimens from the Ríos Napo, Nanay,

Maranon, and Samiria, and from Cumeria and Cerro Azul on the Rio Ucayali;

and it is almost certainly this species of

Lagotbrix

that was encountered by

Dr. A. L. Gardner on the Rio Curanja. Elsewhere it is known by specimens or

reliable reports from the Provinces of Moyobamba (San Martin); Tingo Maria and

Pachi tea (Huanuco) ; Oxapampa (Pesco); Tarma ( Junín) : Jau ja (Avocucho): Calca ,

Paucartambo, and Quispicanchis (Cuzco); Sandia (Puno): and Manu and Tambo-

pata (Madre de Dios). It occurs at higher altitudes than any other monkey, and

ís reporte d to be found at 1 ,800 m. in many localit ies.

Taxonomy .- Cabrero considers the form in the north to be L. c. poeppigii Schinz

(type locality Maynas, on the Rio Maranon), with a range extending as far south

as the lower Río Ucayali and the Rio Yavari. According to the same authority,

L. c.

oliuacea

(Spix) replaces L. c.

poeppigii

in the middle and upper parts of

the Ucayali basin and in the basin of the Urubamba, and is presumobly also the

form further south. Osman Hill considers that the nominate race may extend

into Peru along the north bank of the Amazon as far west as the Rio Napo.

Status .-

Woo11y monkeys are much persecuted, as their f1esh is highly e steemed,

and they command the highest price of a11 in the live monkey trode. They are

not

dífficult

to hunt; and because they are found only in sma11 family parties,

local popu lations are eos ily exterminated. This specíes has disappeared from

the neighborhood of a11 settlement and from the banks of the larger rivers, and

it is probably on the decline everywhere except in the remoter and higher parts

o f i ts ronge which are inaccessible to waterborne hunters.

Lagotbrix cana

is present in the Manu National Park.

Lagothrix hendeei Th om as - Hen dee s Wool ly Monkey

Thís strikingly colored species was described from specimens co11ected at Puca

Tambo,

80

kms. east of Chachapoyas, by R. W. Hendee in

1926.

It is so far

known only from a sma11 areo on the border of the Departments of Amazonas

and San Martin in that region, where it occurs at altitudes of from 1 ,700 m. to

3 ,000 m.

1 k now nothing of its status in the wild.

Lagothrix agothricha (Humboldt ) - Humboldt s Woolly Monkey

This species is recorded as occurring on the north bank of the Amazon between

the Colombian bo-der and the Rio Napo. 1 have been unoble to discover any-

thi ng of its local distribution or present-day status.

19


14/49

Genus Cal/imico Ribeiro - Goeldi's Monkey


Dist ribution and

Taxonomy.-Callimico goeldii

(Thomas) is the only species in

this genus. This little-known and apparen tly r ore monkey, wh ich resembles the

marmos

ets

in many respects, has been recorded from only a few isolated local-

ities, principally in western Brazil. The only record of its occurrence in Peru

that 1 am aware of is the two specimens collected by R. W. Hendee at Cerra

Azul (near Contamana, on the Rio Ucayali) in 192 8. Osman Hi ll, however, in

his distribution map of the species, shows it as also occurring along the Serra

Contamana on the Peruvian-Brazilian border írorn about 7.00 ' S. to 9.00' S.,

although he quotes no records from that oreo. He also states that a live speci-

men exhibited in the New York Zoological Pork was believed to have been

al ic;inally acquired in Iquitos.

Status.- 1 hcve been unable to discover anything of the status or the occurrence

of this species, but it may be that other live specimens occasionally reach

dealers in lquitos and ore exported as pichicos -the portmanteau word used

to cover 011marmosets.

CALLlTHRICIDAE

Genus

Cebuella

Gray - Pigmy Marmosets

Local Name.- Leoncito.

Distribution.- The known range of the single species of this genus is the Amazon

valley from approximately

64.00 '

W. westward into southern Ecuador and north-

ern Peru. It is well known along the Peruvian Amazon and the lower reaches

of the Rio Napa, and specimens are known from Iquito s and Ch imbo te (250 kms.

downstream from the junction of the Rio Napo with the Amazon). 1 have been

unable to determine either its western or its southern limit, but a specimen is

known from Santa Cruz, on the Rio Huallaga at

75 .50 '

W.,

5.20 '

S. A specimen

is also known from the upper basin of the Rio Pastaza, some 15 0 kms. ocross

the border into Ecuador.

Taxonomy.-Cebuella pygmaea (Spíx) is the species, of which only the nominate

rece is found in Peru.

Status ..- Judged solely by the number of animals kept as pets, or available on the

Iquitos morket, this species does not seem to be at 011 rare within its limited

range. Altogether

972

leoncitos were recorded as having been exported in

1964 (the only yeor for whích figures are available), and although that total may

have mcluded some

Leontocebus-for

t he terms leoncito and pichico are

to a certain exte t .

d

n mterchangeable-they would be compensated for by Cebuella

exporte amongst th

lt

t

e 1 ,958 pichicos which were also dispatched. The casu-

a y ra e amongst .

th

. th anlmals of this species in captivity is said to be much lower

an m e genus L

eontocebus .

20

Genus

Leontocebus

Wagner - Tamarins or Long-tusked Mormose ts

Local Names.- Píchíco, Titi.

Distribution and Taxonorny.- The members of this genus are confmed to the low

selva zone of the Amazon region, in almost every part of which one or more

species is to be found. With the exception of Leontocebus imperator with its

long white mustaches (and presumably the pied L. bicolori, they are difficult or

impossible to distinguish in the field, Of the 23 species recognized by Cabrera,

the following

12

have been recorded from Peru.

Leantocebus

bic r

(Spix) - Pied Tamarin

According to Cabrera, this species is found within Peruvian limits only on the

north bank of the Amazon, from the Colombian border west to the Rio Napa.

Osman Hí ll's (1 957) distribution map of the species shows it as not reaching

Peru at

0 1 1 ,

but in his text he cites 1. Geoffray

(185 1 )

as the authority for its

occurrence at Pebas (160 kms. downstream from Iquítos).

f. f\J .1 j, _J, r, •

Leontocebus

graellsi

(Espada) -'Rio Napo Tamarin

The type loca lit y of thís species is Tarapoto, on the Rio Ncpo, near the junction of

the R io Curaray. It ís known only from the basin of the Napo, in both Ecuador

and Peru. Osman Hill (1957) limits its distribution to the left bank of that river.

- ) , I v // . . -

Leantocebus lagonotus (Espada) - Golden-mantled Tamarin

The type locality of this rather doubtful species is Destacamento, near the conflu-

ence of the Rio Napo with the Amazon. Cabrera considers this form to ha ve

clase offinítíes to L.

illigeri

bu t to be r ecogn izable as a separate species, to

whích he gives the range of the north of Peru and Ecuador . Osman Hill con-

siders it to be no more than a race of L. illigeri and gives the distribution of

that roce as the Rio Napa . As he includes Matschie's L.

bluntschlii

i n that

race, however , its range must be extended to include the Rio Samirio, an afflu-

ent of the Rio Maranon (presumably a misprint for Rio Somir i c), from where

L. bluntschlii was described.

s

Leontocebus

illigeri

(Pucheran) - Red-mantled T amarin

Cabrera gives the range of this species as northeast Peru, east Ecuador, and the

extreme southeast of Colombia, in the basins of the upper Solimoes (i.e., Ama-

zon) and the Río Maranon. As he regard s Thomas's L.

mounseyi

as inseparable

fram C. illigeri, however, he must consider the Rio Pacaya (en affluent of the

lower Ucayali, from where L.

mounseyi

was described) to lie within that area.

Osman Hill gives the range of L. illigeri as the Colombian bank of the Rio

Solimoes ( i.e., Amazon)-exact range unknown , but then goes on to cite local-

ities to the south of the Amazon from which it has been recorded, includinq the

Rio Pacaya type locality. of L. mounseyi , which he also regards as inseparable

fram L. illigeri. In his distribution map he shows the species as occupying an

enormous range , ínc ludínq the whole of the basins of the Rios Ucayali and Hua-

llaga to almost 1 1 .0 0 ' S., as well as those of the Rios Napo, Tigre, Pastaza,

and Maranon in the north.

S

21


15/49

Leontocebus pi eatus (1 . G eo ff ro y an d D ev il le) - R ed -c ap ped T am ar in

The main range of this species lies in western Brazil, from the Amazon south to

the Rio Purus. Its northwestern limit extends into the extreme northeast comer

of Peru , however , in the neighborhood of Pebas, which is its type locality.

Leontocebus fuscicoll is

(Spix ) -

B r o w n-h ea de d T a m ar in

The range of th is species is very similar to that of L. pileatus; and it, too, is known

within Peruvian limits only fror n the neighborhood of Pebas and the Rio Yavari.

Leontocebus labiatus (G eo ff ro y) - R ed -b el li ed W hi te-l ip pe d T am ar in

This species is found over a large area of western Brazil, including that part con-

tiguous to the Peruvian border from the Amazon in the north to the Rio Purus at

about 11.00' S. Both Cabrera and Osman Hi11 state that it extends into eastern

Peru, but neither gives any indication of to what extent it does so or in what

localities. Osman Hi11's distribution map, however, shows

it

as occupying the

whole length of the eastern Ucayali basin, but at no point extending as far west

as the river itself.

Leon to c ebu s mystax ( Sp ix ) - M o us t ac h ed T a m o r in

The range of this species is apparently similar to that of L. labiatus, but it extends

further to the north and west. Cabrera states that it ís to be found with in Peru-

vian limits f rom the Brazilian border westward to at least the Rios Napo and

Ucayali; while Osman Hi11's distribution map shows the species as occupying

the lower basins of the Ríos Napo and Tigre in the north, and everywhere east

of the Hua11aga-Ucayali watershed, to about 9.00' S., in the south.

Leontocebus dev i l le i (1. Geo f f r o y ) - De v i l le s T am ar in

This species is apparently confmed to Peru, where Cabrera gives it the range of

the basins of the Ríos Ucayali and Hua11aga. It is very similar to L. nigricollis,

with whích it ís sympatric in some areas, and of which Osman Hi11and Hersh-

kovitz regard it to be a mere color phase. It was described from Sarayacu, at

6.40' S. on the Rio Ucayali; and specimens of it are known from Yurucyacu

(Moyobamba Province, Oept. of San Martin) and Irorn Aguas Calientes (near the

junction of the Rios Pachitea and Uccyclí). as well as Irom the type locality.

Leon to c ebu s nigricollis (Sp i x ) - B la c k-an d-R ed T a mar in

Cabrera gives the range of thís species as western Brazil, along the Rio Soli-

moes, and eastern Peru, in the bcsín of the Río Ucayali . Osman Hi11 confines

its range to Peru, and in his distribution map further restricts it to the area be-

tween the left bank of the Rio Ucayali and the Ucayali-Hua11aga watershed, and

to a contiguous s tr ip a long the north bank of the Rios Maranon and Amazon from

the Río Tigre to the Rio Putumayo. Osman Hi11 refers to specimens írom Pebas

and Iquitos; and the catalogue of the Fíeld Museum of Natural History, Chicago,

lists others from Pachitea, Yarinacocha, Ganzo Azul, and Pucallpa, a11 on the

Rio Ucayali, and f rom the Rio Hua11aga.

22

Leontocebus weddel i (Devi l le) - W ed d el l s T am a ri n

Although this f orm closely r esembles

L. nigricollis,

most authorities regard it as a

separa te species. It ranges thraugh western Brazil, in the basin of the upper

Ríos Purus and Acre, northern Bolivia, and the southern part of the Peruvian

Amazon region. It has been recorded from greater altitudes than most other

species, a specimen having been taken at 1.370 m. on the Rio San Miguel, in

the Calca Province of the Oepartment of Cuzco. Other specimens are known

Irorn Chicosa (on the Rio Ucayali, at 10.20' S.). the Rio Cosireni (La Conven-

cion Province, Oept. of Cuzco), Marcapata (Quispicanchis Prov ince, Dept. of

Puno), and San Ignacio (Sandia Province, Oept. of Puno).

Leontocebus imperator (G oeld i) - Em pero r T am ar in

Cabrera gives the range of this distinctive species as wes te rn Brazi l, in the basins

of the upper Rio Purus and its tributaries. It is now known to extend further

west, however, into the southern part of the Peruvian Amazon reqion, where

specimens are known from the Rio Curanja, in the Oepartment of Loreto, and

from the Rio Manu, in the Manu Province of the Oepartment of Madre de Dios.

Sta tus . - Large numbers of tamarins are captured in the northern part of the De-

partment of Loreto for export alive, nearly 2,000 being dispatched in 1964.

Because of their high mortality rate in captivity, many thouscnds more must die

in the process of capture or dur ing t ransportation to Iquitos. It is not known if

this practice threatens any of the less common species, but most of the animals

1 have seen awaiting expor t appeared to be

L. nigricollis

or

L. illigeri .

Torne-

rins are rarely molested by man in other ways; and, in the southern part of the

country at least, they are frequently to be seen on the banks of rivers in parties

cl~~~. .

L. imperator is known to occur in the Manu National Park, and two other spe-

cies-of which one is presumably

L. weddelli-are

also reported to occur.

L. lagonotus and L. illigeri have both been recorded from the proposed Rio

Samiria and Rio Pacaya Reserve, and

L. devillei

and

L. nigricollis

are probably

to be found there as well.

A glimpse

01

the Andes rising above the Pampas Galeras high in central Peru.

23


16/49

EDENTATA

MYRMECOPHAGIDAE

Genus

Myrmecophaga

linn - Giant Anteaters

Local Names.- Oso H ormiguero, Oso Ban dera, Husnir i, Huaniri, Jia (Campa), Shi-

k uu ( Ch ay hui ta).

Distribution.- Th e giant an teat er is co nf med to th e Amazo n reg ion, where it is

kn own by spec imens or relia ble reports fr om th e ba sin s of th e Ri os Ucayali,

Maranon, an d Curanja, in the Oepartment of Lo reto; from th e north an d th e south

of th e O ep ar tm en t o f S an M a rt in; and fr om the Pr ovin ce s of Tingo M a ri a a nd

Pa chi tea (l-lucnuco ). Tarm a and Jauja (Junin), Paucartambo (Cuzco), Sa ndia

(Puna), and M anu (M ad re d e D ios). It probab ly occur s th roug hout the low se lva

zon e in t hose areas not subj ect to ex tensive an nu al floo ding. It m ay extend into

the lower par t of th e high selva zone, as it is sai d to occur at 90 0 m. near San

Ramon.

Taxonomy.- Myrmecophaga tridactyla Li nn. is th e only speci es of th e genus.

Cabrera includes Per u in th e ra nge of th e nomina te race .

Status.- The speci es appears alway s to h ave been un comr non, an d has now

dis-

appeared from many areas where it was forme rly know n. If, a s s ee ms like ly, it

is

confmed

to areas which do not flo od, the spread of human se ttlement -which

is subject to the sam e limitations-co nstitutes a serious threa t to the speci es .

A n um ber of li v e s pe ci mens are exported each ye ar (e.g., 21 in 196 4), and the

species

is eaten in som e areas. Co ntro l of h unting is necessar y. Myrmeco-

phaga tridactyla is reported to occur in the M anu Nat io nal Pa rk .

Genus

Tamandua

Gray - Tamanduas, Collared Anteaters

Local Names.-

Shihui, Os o Colm enero, Hormigu ero, Fa jao, Kaire (C om pc), Sur-

ru nttii (Chay hui ta) .

Distribution._ Tamanduas are foun d in th e A mazon region , and also in the coa stal

region from the Ecu ado rian b order to at least 7 .0 0' S . In the latter region they

often feed on the sh ore in the O epartm ent of Tu mbe s, and are loc ally report ed

to o ccur as high as 2,50 0m. in th e A ya baca Province of the O epar tm ent of P iu ra.

In the A mazon regi on their know n distri bution is sim il ar to t ha t of

Myrmeco-

phaga tridactyla,

except

that th ey r eg u1 arly occur in th e high selva zon e, being

frequen tly reco rde d at alti tu des up to 1 ,300 m . Sk ins of in div iduals killed at

1 ,8 00 m . in the Marcap ata va lley have been seen by me.

Taxonomy.- Tamandua tetradactyla Li nn, is th e com mon spec ies , w ith th e ra ce

quicbua

Thomas, originally desc ribed from Yur ac Ya cu (Sa n M a rt in ), to th e east

of the An des , an d

T. t. punensis

J. A. AÚen to th e west.

Tamandua longicau-

data

W agner may also OCcur nor th of th e R ío Mara non, according to th e ran ge

g iv en to tha t spec ies by C b

a rera.

24

Status.- Tamandua s ar e ev eryw here m ore com mon than giant anteaters, and their

ar boreal hab its may help to save th em from casual persec ution, thus enabling

th em to pe rsist in lightl y se ttl ed ar eas. Conside rable nu mbe rs are killed , how-

ev er; and some co ntr ol of huntin g is desira ble.

Tamandua tetradactyla

is

pre-

se n t in the Man u N at iona l

Pcrk.

Genus

Cyc/opes

Gray - Pigmy or Silky Anteaters

Local Names.- Serafm , Intepelejo, Pintu -mornc n.

Distribution.- Th e pi gm y a nte ater is appare nt ly con fin ed to th e A mazon reg io n,

wh ere íts recorded di stribu tion is sim ilar to that of Tamandua tetradactyla.

Th e skin of an anim al killed at 1 ,80 0 m . was seen by me in La Con ve ncion

Pr av ince of th e Oepartm ent o f Cuzco . The spec ies occ ur s to the wes t of the

An des in Ecuado r, fram where it co ul d pos sib ly ext end as far south as the

Oepar tme nt of Tumbes. However, it appear s to be unknown to th e inhabitants

of th at reg ion.

Taxonomy.- Cyclopes didactylus (L inn.) is th e only spec ies of the ge nu s. Ac-

co rdin g to Cab rera, the Peruvian farm is

C .

d. ida Thomas.

Status.- Its small siz e and its arb oreal and nocturnal habits pr ob ab ly g ive

ode-

qua te pro tec ti on to th is species in a11 but clos ely-- ;ett led areas. Conside rab le

numbers ar e,

however ,

tak en far th e liv e an im al trade, mos t of which die before

reachin g the deal ers in Pucallpa ar lq uitos, or whil e awaiting ex port from thos e

ce nters, thro ugh la ck of care in accustom ing them to an artificial d iet. Many

stuf fe d spec im ens are also so ld as souve ni rs. Cont rol o f hun tin g, or pre ferab ly

the total pr otec ti on of th e

species,

is the ref

notes on the distribution and status of some peruvian mammals, 1968

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