| Chacoan peccary | |
|---|---|
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| Male at thePhoenix Zoo | |
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| Female at theSan Diego Zoo | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Artiodactyla |
| Family: | Tayassuidae |
| Genus: | Catagonus |
| Species: | C. wagneri |
| Binomial name | |
| Catagonus wagneri (Carlos Rusconi, 1930) | |
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| Synonyms | |
Parachoerus wagneriRusconi, 1930 | |
TheChacoan peccary (Catagonus wagneri), also called thetaguá, is apeccary found in theGran Chaco ofParaguay,Bolivia, andArgentina. It is the only extant species of genusCatagonus.[3] With a total estimated population of approximately 3,000, it is considered to be anendangered species.
The Chacoan peccary was first described in 1930 based onfossils and was originally thought to be an extinct species. In 1971, the animal was discovered to still be extant in the Argentine province ofSalta. The species was well-known to the local people, but it took a while for Western scientists to acknowledge its existence. Because it was originally described as extinct before its rediscovery, it is an example of aLazarus taxon.
The Chacoan peccary is notable in that it is not thetype species of its genus,Catagonus, despite being the only living representative. Instead, the type is the extinctCatagonus metropolitanus. Such a case is an example of a Lazarus taxon, and shares this trait with another South American native, thebush dog. The description of the Chacoan peccary was first published in 1975.[4]
A 2017 study on the phylogenetic systematics ofTayassuidae species suggests thatCatagonus should only containC. metropolitanus. The extinctnarrow-headed peccary(C. stenocephalus) should be moved intoBrasiliochoerus, while the Chacoan peccary,Catagonus bonaerensis andCatagonus carlesi should be placed inParachoerus.[5] If this is accepted, thenCatagonus becomes an extinct genus once more.
The Chacoan peccary is confined to hot, dry areas. Dominated by low-lyingsucculents and thorny bushes, the Gran Chaco is about 140,000 km2. A few scattered giant trees are found, but the majority of the vegetation is thornyscrub vegetation. The Chacoan peccary has developed adaptations such as well-developedsinuses to combat dry, dusty conditions. Their feet are also small, which allows maneuverability among spiny plants.
The largest of the three generally accepted species ofpeccaries, the Chacoan peccary has manypig-like features. It is anungulate with a well-formedrostrum with a tough leathery snout. The bristle-like hair is generally brown to almost gray. A dark stripe runs across the back, and white fur is on the shoulders. Chacoan peccaries differ from other peccary species by having longer ears, snouts, and tails. It has white hairs around the mouth, unlike other peccaries.Catagonus wagneri also has a third hind toe, but other peccaries only have two. Thehypsodont teeth follow this dental formula: 2/3, 1/1, 3/3, 3/3. The upper canines display the distinguishing trait of peccaries, pointing downwards instead of out and up like pigs, which may be a signal for other peccaries to keep the group together through the dense bush.[6]
Young are generally born between September and December, but litters have been found almost year-round. Births have been linked to periods of food abundance and rainfall. The average number of embryos has been recorded as approximately 2.72. Females may leave the herd to give birth and then return afterwards. Newborns areprecocial, able to run a few hours after birth. The pelage of the young resembles that of the adults. There is nosexual dimorphism.
Chacoan peccaries often travel in herds of up to 20 individuals. They are active during the day, especially in the morning when they are most apt to travel. Herds display a general travel cycle within their home range of 42 days. This allows the individuals to monitor and show ownership over their areas.
These social mammals communicate by various sounds, ranging from grunts to chatters of the teeth. Though individuals may occasionally exhibit aggressive behavior such as charging and biting, this species is not as aggressive as others.
As a defensive strategy, members of a herd may line up in a defensive wall; this makes the herds harder targets for hunters. The Chacoan peccary produces a milky, odorous substance used for marking trees, shrubs, and similar. The substance is secreted from glands located on their backs, and is dispersed by rubbing. Frequently bathing in mud or dust, Chacoan peccaries also defecate at particular "stations".
The arid habitat of the Gran Chaco region provides very tough vegetation for the Chacoan peccary. These peccaries feed on various species ofcacti, such asCleistocactus baumannii andOpuntia discolor. It uses its tough snout to roll the cacti on the ground, rubbing the spines off. It may pull off the spines with its teeth and spit them out. The kidneys are specialized to break down acids from the cacti. The two-chambered stomachs are also well suited to digest tough foods. Occasionally grazing onbromeliad roots, it also eatsacacia pods and fallen cactus flowers. This species of peccary seeks out salt licks formed from ant mounds and construction projects (road building and land clearings). The Chacoan peccary gains essential minerals likecalcium,magnesium, andchlorine from thesalt licks.
Because the Chacoan peccary is endemic to a formerly isolated region of South America, it is most vulnerable to human activity. Just as quickly as this species is discovered in an area, it disappears. Herd numbers are decreasing as a result ofhabitat loss andfragmentation. Their range is being quickly transformed into large Texas-styleranches. Hunting also continues, as well as an unidentified disease that has plagued the herds in recent years. A population has been established in North American and European zoos. Preserves have also been established in Paraguay, but are not highly enforced.
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| Other | |
