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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
8/18/2019 Notes on the distribution and status of some Peruvian mammals, 1968
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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
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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
8/18/2019 Notes on the distribution and status of some Peruvian mammals, 1968
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
8/18/2019 Notes on the distribution and status of some Peruvian mammals, 1968
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
8/18/2019 Notes on the distribution and status of some Peruvian mammals, 1968
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
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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
Local Names.- None known.
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
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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.
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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
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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.
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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
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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-
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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.
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Genus Cal/imico Ribeiro - Goeldi's Monkey
Local Names.- None known.
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
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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.
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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