Niche separation between the maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus), the crab‐eating fox (Dusicyon thous) and the hoary fox (Dusicyon vetulus) in central Brazil
Abstract
Four species of canids occur in the Cerrado of central Brazil. Three of them, the maned wolf Chrysocyon brachyurus, the crab‐eating fox Dusicyon thous and the hoary fox Dusicyon vetulus, were studied in Emas National Park between 1996 and 1999 to investigate niche separation. The diet of the three species was studied to understand niche breadth and degree of overlap. Habitat and activity patterns were used as second and third ecological parameters to define niche dimensions, and were estimated using camera‐trap data. The maned wolf is the largest species, weighing c. 21 kg, and is about three times larger than the crab‐eating fox and six times larger than the hoary fox. The major ecological differences between the three species were found in their food niche and habitat use, where crab‐eating fox presented higher differences from the hoary fox (Pianka's index of niche overlap (O) = 0.405). Despite differences in niche breadth, habitat use between the hoary fox and the maned wolf were more similar, explaining their larger overlap, in comparison with habitat use by the crab‐eating fox. Activity patterns among the species showed less divergence. The three species presented two activity peaks, one in the dusk–night period and another in the morning period. These data permit a better understanding of the ecological separation of the three Cerrado canids that enables their coexistence.
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Among animal matter, mammals are the most consumed; rodents and armadillos are often found in the scats, while insects are seldom consumed.
“Among animal matter, mammals are the most consumed; rodents and armadillos are often found in the scats, while insects are seldom consumed (Dietz 1984;Silva and Talamoni 2003;De Almeida Jácomo et al. 2004).”
From Digestive anatomy and diet of free-ranging maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus) (2025) · cites this paper as De Almeida Jácomo et al. 2004
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Digestive anatomy and diet of free-ranging maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus)
Silva, B. C., de Oliveira, L. A., Clauss, M., Costa, C. G., de Oliveira Marques Alexandre, L., & Duque-Correa, M. J. (2025) · Mammalian Biology · doi:10.1007/s42991-025-00493-z · Cited by 2 · see citing works
“…canids is comparable to that of other Carnivora; it is not very complex and relatively short, with a simple stomach, a small cecum, and an unsacculated colon (Dietz 1985; Motta ‐ Junior et al. 1996; Aragona and Setz 2001; Santos et al. 2003; De Almeida Jácomo et al. 2004; Motta-Junior et al. 2013).”
Influential
- Authors
- de Almeida Jácomo, A. T., Silveira, L., & Diniz‐Filho, J. A. F.
- Affiliations
- Universidade de Brasília (BR)
- Universidade Federal de Goiás (BR)
- Corresponding author
- Diniz‐Filho, José Alexandre Felizola
- Venue
- Journal of Zoology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2004-01
- Volume
- 262
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 99-106
- ISSN
- 0952-8369 (ISSN-L)
- 1469-7998
- OpenAlex
- W2098398745
- Cited by
- 193
- References
- 30
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 14 · 2012: 11
- FWCI
- 3.79
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Zoology (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Memphis Zoo
- Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior
- Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecological Modeling › Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Keywords
- niche differentiation, maned wolf, Cerdocyon thous, diet overlap, habitat use, activity patterns, species coexistence, Emas National Park
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