Feeding ecology of the culpeo in southern Ecuador: wild ungulates being the main prey
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This study details for the first time the food habits of the culpeo or Andean fox (Lycalopex culpaeus) in high areas of the Ecuadorian Andes during a complete annual cycle. Our objective was to identify prey species, calculate their contribution to diet and test for temporal variation. In total, 304 Andean fox scats were collected within the Podocarpus National Park (Loja province, southern Ecuador). By analysing the content of scats 413 prey items were identified and classified into eight prey groups. Sub-sequently, the frequency of occurrence (FO) for each prey group was calculated per month together with the relative contribution of estimated consumed biomass (CB). In addition, the Shannon-Wiener’s index was calculated as a measurement of monthly diet diversity. The results show a diet dominated by cervids belonging to the Mazama and Pudu genus (70% FO), followed by small mammals (30% FO), large rodents (12% FO), carnivorous species (10% FO) and lagomorphs (8% FO). There was temporal variation in the consumption of both deer and small mammals. Cervids also provided the major part of the consumed biomass (70% CB), the remaining prey categories each accounted for less than 11% CB. Negative correlations in consumption were observed between cervids and two other groups, rabbits and small mammals. Trophic diversity values fluctuated throughout the year showing a mean of 1.7. The results obtained show a diets very different from those previously reported; deer being the bulk of the diet instead of rodents or other mammals. The consumption of carnivorous species in the area was also high in comparison with other regions. Overall, this study clearly demonstrates that the culpeo is an important top predator in the high-Andean ecosystem.
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The Andean fox also feeds on larger mammals, including artiodactyls, large rodents, and other carnivores such as grisons and hog-nosed skunks.
“This canid also feeds on larger mammals, including artiodactyls (Yáñez & Rau 1980;Johnson & Franklin 1994;Guntiñas et al. 2017), large rodents (Correa & Roa 2005;Guntiñas et al. 2017;Cadena-Ortíz et al. 2020), and other carnivores such as grisons, Galictis (Bell, 1826) and hog-nosed skunks, Conepatus (Gray, 1837) (Johnson & Franklin 1994;Novaro et al. 2004;Zapata et al. 2005;Palacios et al. 2012;G”
From The Andean fox Lycalopex culpaeus (Molina, 1782) in southwestern Colombia: diet and anatomical description (2026) · cites this paper as Guntiñas et al. 2017
The Results report deer, large rodents, and a striped hog-nosed skunk in the Andean fox’s diet. They do not report grisons as prey; the only Galictis mention found is in a reference title. (LLM, conf=0.88)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe diversity of prey identified in this sample was lower compared to studies from Ecuador, where lizards, birds, fruits, and larger mammals such as carnivores, rabbits, and ungulates have been documented.
“However, diversity of prey identified in our sample was lower compared to studies from Ecuador, where lizards, birds, fruits, and larger mammals such as carnivores, rabbits, and ungulates have been documented (Beltrán-Ortiz et al. 2017;Guntiñas et al. 2017;Cadena-Ortiz et al. 2020).”
From The Andean fox Lycalopex culpaeus (Molina, 1782) in southwestern Colombia: diet and anatomical description (2026) · cites this paper as Guntiñas et al. 2017
The Results (page not provided) document birds, fruits, carnivores, rabbits, and cervids in culpeo scats from southern Ecuador. They do not document lizards in this study. The comparison with the citing authors’ own sample is their conclusion, not a finding attributed to Guntiñas et al. (LLM, conf=0.83)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredIn Ecuador the Andean fox has been documented preying on medium and large mammals, typically hunted by pumas.
“In Ecuador the Andean fox has been documented preying on medium and large mammals (Trujillo-Garófolo & Trujillo-Garófolo 2007;Beltrán-Ortiz et al. 2017;Guntiñas et al. 2017;Reina-Moreno 2019;Cadena-Ortiz et al. 2020), typically hunted by pumas.”
From The Andean fox Lycalopex culpaeus (Molina, 1782) in southwestern Colombia: diet and anatomical description (2026) · cites this paper as Guntiñas et al. 2017
The Results report deer and other medium-sized mammals in Andean fox scats from southern Ecuador. The Discussion says park rangers observed foxes hunting deer, but it also allows that some deer meat was scavenged from carcasses left by pumas. It does not establish that the fox preyed on large mammals in Ecuador or that these mammals are typically hunted by pumas. (LLM, conf=0.86)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredIn Podocarpus National Park, Ecuador, deer consumption is more common, and in parts of the Atacama Desert, invertebrates' consumption is more frequent.
“For example, in Podocarpus National Park, Ecuador, deer consumption is more common (Guntiñas et al. 2017), and in parts of the Atacama Desert, invertebrates' consumption is more frequent (Carevic et al. 2019).”
From The Andean fox Lycalopex culpaeus (Molina, 1782) in southwestern Colombia: diet and anatomical description (2026) · cites this paper as Guntiñas et al. 2017
Ecological knowledge of the Andean fox comes mostly from dietary and population density studies in Ecuador.
“whereas ecological knowledge comes mostly from dietary and population density studies in Ecuador (Trujillo-Garófalo & Trujillo-Garófalo 2007;Guntiñas et al. 2017;Guntiñas et al. 2019;Beltrán-Ortiz et al. 2017;Reina-Moreno 2019;Cadena-Ortiz et al. 2020).”
From The Andean fox Lycalopex culpaeus (Molina, 1782) in southwestern Colombia: diet and anatomical description (2026) · cites this paper as Guntiñas et al. 2017
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Rosero-Taramuel, J. L., Arboleda-Osorio, J. J., Guerrero-Diaz, A. F., Jimenez Anacona, F. D., Matabanchoy-C, K., Pisso-Florez, G. A., & Ramírez-Chaves, H. E. (2026) · Notas sobre Mamíferos Sudamericanos · doi:10.31687/saremnms26.1305
- Authors
- Guntiñas, M., Lozano, J., Cisneros, R., Narváez, C., & Armijos, J.
- Affiliations
- Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja (EC)
- ORCID
- Cisneros, Rodrigo
- Venue
- Contributions to Zoology
- Publisher
- Walter de Gruyter GmbH
- Published
- 2017-07-19
- Volume
- 86
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 169-180
- ISSN
- 0067-8546 (ISSN-L)
- 1383-4517
- 1875-9866
- OpenAlex
- W2763592097
- Cited by
- 15
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 3
- FWCI
- 1.24
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- diamond
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Bijdragen tot de Dierkunde (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- Multilingual Matters (Channel View Publications) (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- The Digital Academic Repository of Naturalis Biodiversity Center (Naturalis Biodiversity Center) (submittedVersion)
- Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- The Digital Academic Repository of Naturalis Biodiversity Center (Naturalis Biodiversity Center) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Funders
- Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja
- Ministry of Environment
- Secretaría de Educación Superior, Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación
- Universidad San Francisco de Quito
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics › Plant and animal studies
- Keywords
- Lycalopex culpaeus, Andean fox, feeding ecology, diet composition, scat analysis, wild ungulates, deer, Mazama, Pudu, small mammals, trophic diversity, top predators, high Andean ecosystems, Podocarpus National Park
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