METHODS
The target species
Atelocynus microtis(Appendix-Figure 1, A and B) is the only endemic species in the Amazon
Biome, but with a wide distribution in the region, extending from
Ecuador to Brazil (Leite-Pitman and Willians, 2011). It is considered
rare, based on a low number of records by most studies during the last
30 years (Peres, 1991; Koester et al., 2008; Michalski, 2010; Blake et
al., 2012; Ayure and González-Maya, 2014). However, this species seems
to have been more frequently recorded previously (Grimwood, 1968).
Possible reasons for its apparent reduced population size are infection
by diseases acquired through contact with domestic dogs and the loss of
habitat (Leite-Pitman and Willians, 2011). Atelocynus microtis is
a mesocarnivorous canid with a generalist carnivore diet but also
including fruit (Leite-Pitman and Williams, 2004; Blake et al., 2012;
Penrose, 2019). It is solitary (Peres, 1991), usually with a diurnal
activity (Leite-Pitman and Williams, 2004; Blake et al., 2012).
Individuals of this species does
not seem to tolerate disturbed habitats and prefer continuous primary
lowland and upland forests (Michalski, 2010; Leite-Pitman and Willians,
2011; Rocha et al., 2020). This species is classified as ”Near
Threatened” in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (Leite-Pitman and
Willians, 2011).
Cerdocyon thous (Appendix-Figure 1, C and D) has the smallest
distribution area in the Amazon Biome of the three species. However, it
has a wide distribution in the rest of South America. It is common in
the Pantanal , Atlantic Forest, Cerrado , Amazon, andCaatinga biomes, and frequently recorded in forest edges (Brady,
1979; Courtenay and Maffei, 2004). Individuals of this species have a
twilight and nocturnal habits, are solitary or lives in small groups
(Macdonald and Courtenay, 1996). Their diet is considered omnivorous,
generalist, and opportunistic, feeding on invertebrates, small
vertebrates, and even carrion, but they also frequently feed on fruits
(Bisbal and Ojasti, 1980; Macdonald and Courtenay, 1996). Of the three
species, C. thous can be considered the one that least depends on
the forest, and being quite adapted to open environments, including
human-made areas (Faria-Corrêa et al., 2009; Ferraz et al., 2010). This
species is classified as “Least Concern” in the IUCN Red List
(Lucherini, 2015).
Speothos venaticus (Appendix-Figure 1, E and F) is the canid with
the broadest distribution in the Amazon, although it is not common where
it occurs (DeMatteo and Loiselle, 2008; Guimarães et al., 2015; De
Oliveira et al., 2018). In Brazil, this animal occurs in the Amazon,Pantanal , Atlantic Forest, Cerrado and Caatingabiomes, especially in humid forests and preserved riparian forests.
Individuals of this species have a strong relationship with forest
environments (DeMatteo and Loiselle, 2008; Michalski, 2010). However, it
has also been recorded in open areas of the Cerrado (Silveira et
al., 1998; Lima et al., 2015), and altered and fragmented environments
in the Amazon (DeMatteo and Loiselle, 2008). Recently, its suitability
for native environments in the Cerrado was confirmed (Lima et al.,
2015). Speothos venaticus can be considered a hypercarnivore,
feeding on small vertebrates and larger mammals such as pacas, agoutis,
and even capybaras (Beisiegel and Ades, 2002; Zuercher et al., 2005).
They are social animals, which may have a cooperative hunting system,
but lone individuals are also frequently observed (Beisiegel and Ades,
2002; DeMatteo et al., 2011). This species is classified as “Near
Threatened” in the IUCN Red List (DeMatteo et al., 2011). Its greatest
threat appears to be habitat degradation.