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Land use changes by human activities have been the main causes of habitats and wildlife population degradation. In the Tehuantepec Isthmus in Oaxaca, the tropical habitat of the porcupine Sphiggurus mexicanus has been subject to vegetation and land use changes, causing its reduction and fragmentation. In this study, we estimated vegetation cover and land use (δn) change rates and assessed habitat availability and potential corridors for possible porcupine movements to avoid its isolation. In the study area, the type of vegetation with the most change rate value was the savanna (δn=-2.9), transformed into induced grasslands. Additionally, we have observed the porcupine (since 2011) in semi-deciduous (δn=-0.87) and tropical dry (δn=-0.89) forests that have been transformed in temporal agriculture and mesquite and induced grasslands. The vegetation inhabited by the porcupine resulted in recording a total of 64 plant species (44 trees, nine vines, seven herbs, four shrubs), of which the vine Bunchosia lanceolata showed the highest importance value (41.85) followed by the trees Guazuma ulmifolia (22.71), Dalbergia glabra (18.05), and Enterolobium cyclocarpum (17.02). The habitat evaluation and potential corridor analysis showed that only 1 501.93ha could be considered as suitable habitats with optimum structural conditions (coverage, surface, and distances to transformed areas) to maintain viable populations of S. mexicanus, and 293.6ha as corridors. An increasing destruction of the porcupines’ habitat has been observed in the study area due to excessive logging, and actions for this species and its habitat conservation and management have to be taken urgently. Rev. Biol. Trop. 62 (4): 1481-1494. Epub 2014 December 01.

Los cambios de uso del suelo por actividades humanas, han sido de las principales causas de la degradación, reducción y fragmentación de los hábitats y poblaciones de fauna silvestre. En el Istmo de Tehuantepec, Oaxaca, el hábitat del puercoespín tropical Sphiggurus mexicanus, se encuentra sometido a cambios de cobertura vegetal y uso del suelo, que están causando la reducción y fragmentación de su hábitat. Debido a ello, estimamos las tasas de cambio de la cobertura vegetal y uso del suelo (δn), y evaluamos la disponibilidad del hábitat y de corredores vegetales potenciales para los posibles movimientos del puercoespín tropical y evitar su aislamiento. En el área de estudio el tipo de vegetación con mayor valor de tasa de cambio fue la sabana (δn=-2.9), transformado en pastizal inducido. Adicionalmente, observamos puercoespínes (desde 2011) en selva mediana subperennifolia (δn=-0.87) y selva baja caducifolia (δn=-0.89), los cuales han sido transformados en áreas de cultivo, selva baja espinosa y pastizal inducido. Caracterizamos la vegetación del hábitat del puercoespín, registrando un total de 64 especies vegetales (44 árboles, nueve bejucos, siete hierbas y cuatro arbustos), de los cuales, el bejuco Bunchosia lanceolata, presentó los valores más altos de importancia (41.85), seguidos por los árboles Guazuma ulmifolia (22.71), Dalbergia glabra (18.05), y Enterolobium cyclocarpum (17.02). El análisis de evaluación de hábitat y corredores potenciales mostró que solo 1 501.93ha pueden considerarse como hábitats adecuados con condiciones estructurales (de cobertura, superficie y distancias a áreas transformadas) para mantener poblaciones viables de S. mexicanus; y 293.6ha como corredores. La destrucción del hábitat del puerco espín en el área de estudio está incrementándose por la tala excesiva, por lo tanto, es prioritario emprender acciones para la conservación y manejo del taxón y su hábitat.

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We evaluated geographic variation in New World porcupines of Coendou (Erethizontidae) from eastern Brazil by analyzing morphological data from museum specimens we identified as Coendou insidiosus and C. spinosus. Coendou insidiosus ranges from the states of Bahia to Espírito Santo, reaching the state of Minas Gerais in Brazil; C. spinosus extends from the states of Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo to the state of Rio Grande do Sul, in Brazil, extending into Paraguay, Uruguay, and northeastern Argentina. Our results indicate that there are three spatially coherent, morphologically distinct groups, which can be diagnosed using a combination of discrete morphological characters, and which are supported by univariate and multivariate statistical analyses. We classified members of the Northern group as C. insidiosus, which usually have several pale to light-brown unicolor thin hairs covering the dorsal and lateral quills. They are cranially and externally smaller than the other two groups, and have shorter hairs and quills. Specimens of the Central group are intermediate in terms of body size, and fit the description of C. spinosus, which have thick hairs covering the dorsal and lateral quills. These hairs are dark-brown at the base, and grayish, orange, yellow or light brown at the tip. The Southern group has the largest size and we classified it as a geographic variant of C. spinosus based on the conspicuous presence of large quills on the dorsal surface, which vary from yellowish or orange to blackish.

RESUMO

We evaluated geographic variation in New World porcupines of Coendou (Erethizontidae) from eastern Brazil by analyzing morphological data from museum specimens we identified as Coendou insidiosus and C. spinosus. Coendou insidiosus ranges from the states of Bahia to Espírito Santo, reaching the state of Minas Gerais in Brazil; C. spinosus extends from the states of Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo to the state of Rio Grande do Sul, in Brazil, extending into Paraguay, Uruguay, and northeastern Argentina. Our results indicate that there are three spatially coherent, morphologically distinct groups, which can be diagnosed using a combination of discrete morphological characters, and which are supported by univariate and multivariate statistical analyses. We classified members of the Northern group as C. insidiosus, which usually have several pale to light-brown unicolor thin hairs covering the dorsal and lateral quills. They are cranially and externally smaller than the other two groups, and have shorter hairs and quills. Specimens of the Central group are intermediate in terms of body size, and fit the description of C. spinosus, which have thick hairs covering the dorsal and lateral quills. These hairs are dark-brown at the base, and grayish, orange, yellow or light brown at the tip. The Southern group has the largest size and we classified it as a geographic variant of C. spinosus based on the conspicuous presence of large quills on the dorsal surface, which vary from yellowish or orange to blackish.

RESUMO

Background: The orange-spined hairy dwarf porcupine (Sphiggurus villosus) is a mammal found in Brazil, Venezuela, Guyanas and Bolivia. Its dorsum is yellowish brown and presents a great number of spines. There are no spines in the belly area, which is covered with softer fur. It can host ticks and louses, hemoparasites and endoparasites. This paper aimed to describe the lung lobation and the bronchial distribution of the orange-spined hairy dwarf porcupine.Materials, Methods & Results: The lungs of two orange-spined hairy dwarf porcupines, ran over by cars and with no damage in the viscerae, were used in the study. Animals were set with intramuscular and intravisceral injections of a 10% formaldehyde solution and further dissected. The right lung was bigger than the left one and presented cranial, middle, caudal and accessory lobes, and the cranial lobe was bilobated in cranial and caudal portions. The left lung presented cranial and caudal lobes, and the former was subdivided into cranial and caudal portions. The right main bronchus divided into three bronchi, one to the cranial, one to the middle and one to the caudal and accessory lobes. The right lobar bronchus gave origin to five segmental bronchi to the cranial portion and three segmental bronchi to the caudal portion; the middle lobar bronchus originated four segmental bronchi; the accessory lobe bronchus was origina

Background: The orange-spined hairy dwarf porcupine (Sphiggurus villosus) is a mammal found in Brazil, Venezuela, Guyanas and Bolivia. Its dorsum is yellowish brown and presents a great number of spines. There are no spines in the belly area, which is covered with softer fur. It can host ticks and louses, hemoparasites and endoparasites. This paper aimed to describe the lung lobation and the bronchial distribution of the orange-spined hairy dwarf porcupine. Materials,Methods & Results: The lungs of two orange-spined hairy dwarf porcupines, ran over by cars and with no damage in the viscerae, were used in the study. Animals were set with intramuscular and intravisceral injections of a 10% formaldehyde solution and further dissected. The right lung was bigger than the left one and presented cranial, middle, caudal and accessory lobes, and the cranial lobe was bilobated in cranial and caudal portions. The left lung presented cranial and caudal lobes, and the former was subdivided into cranial and caudal portions. The right main bronchus divided into three bronchi, one to the cranial, one to the middle and one to the caudal and accessory lobes. The right lobar bronchus gave origin to five segmental bronchi to the cranial portion and three segmental bronchi to the caudal portion; the middle lobar bronchus originated four segmental bronchi; the accessory lobe bronchus was origina

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The orange-spined hairy dwarf porcupine (Sphiggurus villosus) is a rodent species common in most parts of South America, and little is known about the pathologies that can afflict it. A specimen was delivered at the Wildlife Research and Medical Center (CEMPAS), School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Husbandry, UNESP, Botucatu, SP, Brazil. The animal showed intense apathy, with purulent secretion in the nasal cavity and fracture of the lumbar spine. Due to the unfavorable prognosis, the porcupine was euthanized and microbiological culture of nasal discharge showed Staphylococcus epidermidis. The antimicrobial resistance test revealed sensitivity to all tested antimicrobials (ampicillin, oxacillin, tetracycline, penicillin G, neomycin, cephalexin, gentamicin, enrofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, cotrimoxazol, cefoxitin and cephalothin). This bacterium is part of the nasal flora of humans and other animals, and may cause infection under certain conditions. In the present study, the infection and colonization by S. epidermidis was the probable cause of the inflammatory process. The sensitivity to all tested antimicrobials suggests that this strain has not been previously exposed to such drugs.(AU)

Assuntos

RESUMO

The orange-spined hairy dwarf porcupine (Sphiggurus villosus) is a rodent species common in most parts of South America, and little is known about the pathologies that can afflict it. A specimen was delivered at the Wildlife Research and Medical Center (CEMPAS), School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Husbandry, UNESP, Botucatu, SP, Brazil. The animal showed intense apathy, with purulent secretion in the nasal cavity and fracture of the lumbar spine. Due to the unfavorable prognosis, the porcupine was euthanized and microbiological culture of nasal discharge showed Staphylococcus epidermidis. The antimicrobial resistance test revealed sensitivity to all tested antimicrobials (ampicillin, oxacillin, tetracycline, penicillin G, neomycin, cephalexin, gentamicin, enrofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, cotrimoxazol, cefoxitin and cephalothin). This bacterium is part of the nasal flora of humans and other animals, and may cause infection under certain conditions. In the present study, the infection and colonization by S. epidermidis was the probable cause of the inflammatory process. The sensitivity to all tested antimicrobials suggests that this strain has not been previously exposed to such drugs.

Assuntos

RESUMO

Background: The orange-spined hairy dwarf porcupine (Sphiggurus villosus) is a mammal found in Brazil, Venezuela, Guyanas and Bolivia. Its dorsum is yellowish brown and presents a great number of spines. There are no spines in the belly area, which is covered with softer fur. It can host ticks and louses, hemoparasites and endoparasites. This paper aimed to describe the lung lobation and the bronchial distribution of the orange-spined hairy dwarf porcupine.Materials, Methods & Results: The lungs of two orange-spined hairy dwarf porcupines, ran over by cars and with no damage in the viscerae, were used in the study. Animals were set with intramuscular and intravisceral injections of a 10% formaldehyde solution and further dissected. The right lung was bigger than the left one and presented cranial, middle, caudal and accessory lobes, and the cranial lobe was bilobated in cranial and caudal portions. The left lung presented cranial and caudal lobes, and the former was subdivided into cranial and caudal portions. The right main bronchus divided into three bronchi, one to the cranial, one to the middle and one to the caudal and accessory lobes. The right lobar bronchus gave origin to five segmental bronchi to the cranial portion and three segmental bronchi to the caudal portion; the middle lobar bronchus originated four segmental bronchi; the accessory lobe bronchus was origina

Background: The orange-spined hairy dwarf porcupine (Sphiggurus villosus) is a mammal found in Brazil, Venezuela, Guyanas and Bolivia. Its dorsum is yellowish brown and presents a great number of spines. There are no spines in the belly area, which is covered with softer fur. It can host ticks and louses, hemoparasites and endoparasites. This paper aimed to describe the lung lobation and the bronchial distribution of the orange-spined hairy dwarf porcupine. Materials,Methods & Results: The lungs of two orange-spined hairy dwarf porcupines, ran over by cars and with no damage in the viscerae, were used in the study. Animals were set with intramuscular and intravisceral injections of a 10% formaldehyde solution and further dissected. The right lung was bigger than the left one and presented cranial, middle, caudal and accessory lobes, and the cranial lobe was bilobated in cranial and caudal portions. The left lung presented cranial and caudal lobes, and the former was subdivided into cranial and caudal portions. The right main bronchus divided into three bronchi, one to the cranial, one to the middle and one to the caudal and accessory lobes. The right lobar bronchus gave origin to five segmental bronchi to the cranial portion and three segmental bronchi to the caudal portion; the middle lobar bronchus originated four segmental bronchi; the accessory lobe bronchus was origina

RESUMO

Background: The orange-spined hairy dwarf porcupine (Sphiggurus villosus) is a mammal found in Brazil, Venezuela, Guyanas and Bolivia. Its dorsum is yellowish brown and presents a great number of spines. There are no spines in the belly area, which is covered with softer fur. It can host ticks and louses, hemoparasites and endoparasites. This paper aimed to describe the lung lobation and the bronchial distribution of the orange-spined hairy dwarf porcupine. Materials, Methods & Results: The lungs of two orange-spined hairy dwarf porcupines, ran over by cars and with no damage in the viscerae, were used in the study. Animals were set with intramuscular and intravisceral injections of a 10% formaldehyde solution and further dissected. The right lung was bigger than the left one and presented cranial, middle, caudal and accessory lobes, and the cranial lobe was bilobated in cranial and caudal portions. The left lung presented cranial and caudal lobes, and the former was subdivided into cranial and caudal portions. The right main bronchus divided into three bronchi, one to the cranial, one to the middle and one to the caudal and accessory lobes. The right lobar bronchus gave origin to five segmental bronchi to the cranial portion and three segmental bronchi to the caudal portion; the middle lobar bronchus originated four segmental bronchi; the accessory lobe bronchus was originated from the right caudal lobe and divided into two segmental bronchi. The right lobar bronchus divided into eleven segmental bronchi. The main left bronchus bifurcated into one bronchus to the cranial lobe and one to the caudal lobe; the left cranial lobe bronchus divided into five to the cranial portion and two to the caudal portion; the left caudal lobe bronchus originated eleven segmental bronchi as well as the right one. Discussion: Markable interlobar fissures were noticed between lobes, similarly to the domestic carnivorous, to the crabeating raccoon (Procyon cancrivorus) and to wild rodents as agoutis (Dasyprocta azarae). There was a left lobe division, differently from the described in the crab-eating raccoon and horses, and similarly to the described in domestic carnivorous or in agoutis, capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) and pacas (Agouti paca). In all lobes, but the accessory lobe, lobar bronchi divided into several segmental bronchi, differently from the described in the right cranial and accessory lobes of the domestic carnivorous and of the crab-eating raccoon, and from the right middle lobe bronchus of the paca, which presented a bifurcated lobar bronchus. It also differed from the left cranial lobe of agoutis and pacas, which presented one or three segmental bronchi to this lobe, respectively. In the accessory lobe, there was a lobar bronchus bifurcating in segmental bronchi, as described in the domestic carnivorous and in the crab-eating raccoon. The bronchial distribution and lung lobation of the orange-spined hairy dwarf porcupine were different from the ones reported in domestic carnivorous and horses, wild rodents and from the crab-eating raccoon, with a markable division in the left and right cranial lobes, as in the domestic ruminants, from whom it differed due the absence of the tracheal bronchus.

Assuntos

RESUMO

We evaluated geographic variation in New World porcupines of Coendou (Erethizontidae) from eastern Brazil by analyzing morphological data from museum specimens we identified as Coendou insidiosus and C. spinosus. Coendou insidiosus ranges from the states of Bahia to Espírito Santo, reaching the state of Minas Gerais in Brazil; C. spinosus extends from the states of Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo to the state of Rio Grande do Sul, in Brazil, extending into Paraguay, Uruguay, and northeastern Argentina. Our results indicate that there are three spatially coherent, morphologically distinct groups, which can be diagnosed using a combination of discrete morphological characters, and which are supported by univariate and multivariate statistical analyses. We classified members of the Northern group as C. insidiosus, which usually have several pale to light-brown unicolor thin hairs covering the dorsal and lateral quills. They are cranially and externally smaller than the other two groups, and have shorter hairs and quills. Specimens of the Central group are intermediate in terms of body size, and fit the description of C. spinosus, which have thick hairs covering the dorsal and lateral quills. These hairs are dark-brown at the base, and grayish, orange, yellow or light brown at the tip. The Southern group has the largest size and we classified it as a geographic variant of C. spinosus based on the conspicuous presence of large quills on the dorsal surface, which vary from yellowish or orange to blackish.

RESUMO

Onze ouriços-cacheiros (Sphiggurus spp.) foram contidos farmacologicamente para realização de exames médicos e procedimentos de manejo. Utilizaram-se, para tal finalidade, xilazina (dose média de 2,32 mg/kg) e cetamina (dose média de 29,66 mg/kg), combinadas na mesma seringa, administradas no terço final da cauda. Observou-se reação à administração dos fármacos provavelmente por dor, indução em um tempo médio de 8,20 minutos e 24,63 minutos de contenção farmacológica. Tanto a indução quanto a recuperação foram suaves e livres de efeitos excitatórios. A freqüência respiratória permaneceu inalterada, mas houve redução na freqüência cardíaca e na temperatura retal com o decorrer do tempo. A associação de xilazina e cetamina, nas doses utilizadas, foi eficiente na contenção farmacológica de ouriço-cacheiro (Sphiggurus spp.) para a realização de manejo ou procedimentos médicos menos invasivos.

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