Tail use behavior to carry vegetable matter by Marmosops incanus (Lund, 1840) and Didelphis aurita (Wied-Neuwied, 1826) (Didelphimorphia: Didelphidae)

Authors

  • Maria Eduarda Soares Laboratório de Ciências Ambientais (LCA), Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologia (CBB), Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro (UENF), Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
  • Amanda Braga Laboratório de Ciências Ambientais (LCA), Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologia (CBB), Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro (UENF), Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
  • Isabela Clemente Fragoso Okawa Laboratório de Ciências Ambientais (LCA), Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologia (CBB), Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro (UENF), Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
  • Caryne Braga Laboratório de Ciências Ambientais (LCA), Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologia (CBB), Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro (UENF), Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32673/bjm.vi92.129

Keywords:

Camera trap, Ethology, Nesting, Natural History, Urban Ecology

Abstract

This study describes Marmosops incanus and Didelphis aurita using their tails to carry plant material, probably for nesting. This is the first record of this behavior for M. incanus and for the tribe Thylamyini. Such description shows that this behavior is widespread amongst didelphid marsupials, indicating that this is a possibly ancestral behavior that remains in the group’s living species. Also, our record coincides with previous descriptions of M. incanus reproductive time, showing the importance of using video recording as a tool to understand the behavior of wild animals.

Author Biographies

Maria Eduarda Soares, Laboratório de Ciências Ambientais (LCA), Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologia (CBB), Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro (UENF), Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Site: https://mastozoologia.wixsite.com/verteco

Orcid: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2384-6511

Amanda Braga, Laboratório de Ciências Ambientais (LCA), Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologia (CBB), Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro (UENF), Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Site: https://mastozoologia.wixsite.com/verteco.

Orcid: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-5845-8258

Isabela Clemente Fragoso Okawa, Laboratório de Ciências Ambientais (LCA), Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologia (CBB), Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro (UENF), Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Site: https://mastozoologia.wixsite.com/verteco

Caryne Braga, Laboratório de Ciências Ambientais (LCA), Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologia (CBB), Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro (UENF), Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Site: https://mastozoologia.wixsite.com/verteco

Orcid: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2671-0206

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Published

2024-02-21

How to Cite

Soares, M. E., Braga, A., Okawa, I. C. F., & Braga, C. (2024). Tail use behavior to carry vegetable matter by Marmosops incanus (Lund, 1840) and Didelphis aurita (Wied-Neuwied, 1826) (Didelphimorphia: Didelphidae). Brazilian Journal of Mammalogy, (92), e922023129. https://doi.org/10.32673/bjm.vi92.129