Padrão de atividade e sobreposição temporal entre duas espécies de tatu-de-rabo-mole (Cabassous spp.) em região do Cerrado, Mato Grosso do Sul

Abstract

Armadillos are animals belonging to the order Cingulata, characterized by possessing dermal shields that form a protective carapace. Species of the genus Cabassous, commonly known as naked-tailed armadillos, are among the least studied armadillo species. This research aimed to describe the activity patterns of Cabassous tatouay and Cabassous squamicaudis to determine whether these species exhibit temporal niche overlap. The study was conducted in a remnant of the Cerrado, specifically in the Pombo Municipal Natural Park, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Camera traps were strategically placed throughout the park from 2022 to 2024. A total of 81 records were obtained: 65 of C. tatouay and 16 of C. squamicaudis. The overlap in activity times was low (∆1 = 0.5035). C. tatouay exhibited a cathemeral activity pattern, with activity peaks at midday and three in the morning, while C. squamicaudis was strictly diurnal, with an activity peak around midday, suggesting a moderate temporal overlap between these species. The armadillos were active during mild temperatures, emphasizing the role of burrows and the need for sun exposure in their thermoregulation. These findings provide baseline data for future research on these species. Information such as activity timing may guide further studies and increase the chances of encounters with these animals.