Biologia comportamental de Conepatus semistriatus (Carnivora, Mephitidae) em Cerrado do Brasil Central

Abstract

The skunks (Mephitidae), with two species occurring in Brazil (Conepatus semistriatus and C.chinga), have not been well studied throughout the Neotropics, and in Brazil there is a general lack of data on their ecology, behavior, distribution, systematics, biogeographic and morphological patterns. The focus of this study was on understanding the home range, activity patterns and diet of C.semistriatus. Field research was conducted in the Emas National Park, where 3 (three) individual skunks with radio-collars were relocated on 157 separate occasions. Information about the basic behavior and ecology of these animals was also gathered by making direct visual observations and collecting feces samples. The observed patterns of activity indicate that the species is predominantly nocturnal, with a great expenditure of time on foraging. Temperature had a direct influence on the animals behavior, but there was no apparent influence of light on activity patterns. An analysis of home range areas showed them to vary from 1.18±0.66 km2 (MPC100%) and 1.72±0.37 km2 (Kernel 95%). With regards to diet, the species was found to be opportunistic, as evidenced by fecal analyses and direct observations. In addition to fruits and scavenged vertebrate carcasses, invertebrates were found to be an abundant component of the diet of C. semistriatus. Trash heaps were frequently visited for the purpose of foraging on organic waste. There was great home range overlap between individuals, 0.27 km2 (MPC 100%) and 0.28 km2 (Kernel 95%), where these sites of easy access to resources were located, although no individuals demonstrated any dependence on them.