Predation of the black-and-white tegu (Salvator merianae) by the lesser grison (Galictis cuja)

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This study describes the hunting and predatory behavior of the lesser grison on an adult black-and-white tegu as recorded by camera traps in an Atlantic forest remnant in the União Biological Reserve (Rio das Ostras, RJ, Brazil). This is the first record of a mustelid preying on this large lizard species and the first direct record of a hunting event of S. merianae by a mammal. The observed hunting behavior is heavily based on olfactory search, and the long struggle to kill and remove the prey from a burrow is described.


Predação de teiú Salvator merianae por furão-pequeno Galictis cuja. Neste trabalho descrevemos o comportamento de caça e predação de um lagarto Salvator merianae adulto pelo furão-pequeno, registrado por armadilhas-fotográficas na Reserva Biológica União (Rio das Ostras, RJ, Brasil). Este é o primeiro registro de um mustelídeo predando esta espécie de lagarto, e o primeiro registro direto de um evento de caça de S. merianae por um mamífero. São descritos o comportamento de caça baseado na busca olfativa e a longa luta até a morte e retirada da presa de dentro de um buraco no solo.

On the distinction and availability of the new taxa proposed by Agnolin et al. 2019

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Recently, Agnolin et al. (2019) described 14 new species of mammals, including 12 rodents, one bat, and one carnivore, and one new subspecies of rodent. In addition, these authors proposed several other nomenclatorial acts: some nominal forms were removed from synonymies and hypothesized as distinct species, at the time that three new genera, one subtribe, and one tribe of mammals were also named. We reviewed the merits of all nomenclatorial acts proposed by Agnolin at al. (2019) and concluded that all 14 new species and the new subspecies, as well as those forms removed from synonymies, should be treated as synonyms of already known species. We suggest the same regarding the three new supraspecific taxa presented by Agnolin et al., two of which are not available as they fail to comply with the provisions of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. We end this contribution criticizing the way that mammal taxonomy was approached by Agnolin et al. (2019).


Sobre la distinción y disponibilidad de los nuevos taxones propuestos por Agnolin et al. 2019. Recientemente, Agnolin et al. (2019) describieron 14 especies nuevas de mamíferos, incluyendo 12 roedores, un murciélago y un carnívoro, y una nueva subespecie de roedor. Además, estos autores propusieron varios otros actos nomenclatoriales: algunas formas nominales se eliminaron de las sinonimias y se hipotetizaron como especies distintas; se nombraron tres nuevos géneros, una subtribu y una tribu de mamíferos. Revisamos todos los actos nomenclatoriales propuestos por Agnolin et al. (2019) y concluimos que las 14 nuevas especies y la nueva subespecie, así como las formas eliminadas de las sinonimias, deben tratarse como sinónimos de especies ya conocidas. Sugerimos lo mismo con respecto a los tres nuevos taxones supraespecíficos presentados por Agnolin et al. (2019), de los cuales dos no están disponibles ya que no cumplen con las disposiciones del Código Internacional de Nomenclatura Zoológica. Terminamos esta contribución criticando la forma en que Agnolin et al. (2019) realizaron su abordaje taxonómico.