Diets of Three Species of Andean Carnivores in High-Altitude Deserts of Argentina
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We present the 1st data on the diet of the Andean mountain cat (Leopardus jacobitus), and the 1st on the colocolo (Leopardus colocolo) and the culpeo (Lycalopex culpaeus) in high-altitude deserts of northern Argentina, based on fecal analysis. Feces of Andean mountain cats and colocolos were distinguished by DNA analysis. The Andean mountain cat (n= 57) was the most specialized, relying heavily on southern mountain vizcachas (Lagidium viscacia). The colocolo (n = 504) also was specialized, consuming mostly cricetine rodents and tuco-tucos (Ctenomys). The culpeo (n= 399) was a generalist, consuming all prey items that the cats used, and a greater variety of invertebrates. Short-tailed chinchillas (Chinchilla chinchilla) were found in 3 culpeo feces, indicating that this rodent, considered extinct in Argentina, is still present in the wild. Both southern mountain vizcachas and tuco-tucos have a patchy distribution, indicating that very large areas may be required to support populations of the cats that depend on these prey species.
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The Andean fox Lycalopex culpaeus is a generalist and opportunistic canid.
“The Andean fox Lycalopex culpaeus (Molina, 1782), is a generalist and opportunistic canid (Zapata et al. 2005;Walker et al. 2007;Carevic et al. 2019)”
From The Andean fox Lycalopex culpaeus (Molina, 1782) in southwestern Colombia: diet and anatomical description (2026) · cites this paper as Walker et al. 2007
The Abstract and Discussion identify the culpeo (Lycalopex culpaeus) as a dietary generalist. The Discussion suggests that differences in its diet among sites may reflect prey availability, but does not establish the broader, unqualified description of the species as opportunistic. Page numbers were not available in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.82)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe Andean fox also consumes invertebrates.
“invertebrates (Yáñez & Rau 1980;Walker et al. 2007;Carevic et al. 2019)”
From The Andean fox Lycalopex culpaeus (Molina, 1782) in southwestern Colombia: diet and anatomical description (2026) · cites this paper as Walker et al. 2007
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References 24 · Cited by 90
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- Authors
- Walker, R. S., Novaro, A. J., Perovic, P., Palacios, R., Donadio, E., Lucherini, M., Pia, M., & López, M. S.
- Affiliations
- Wildlife Conservation Society Argentina (AR)
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (AR)
- National University of Salta (AR)
- Instituto de Estudos do Mar Almirante Paulo Moreira (BR)
- Corresponding author
- Walker, R. Susan
- Venue
- Journal of Mammalogy
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2007-04-20
- Volume
- 88
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 519-525
- ISSN
- 0022-2372 (ISSN-L)
- 1545-1542
- OpenAlex
- W1968463235
- Cited by
- 90
- References
- 24
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 4.35
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Journal of Mammalogy (publishedVersion)
- BioOne Complete (BioOne) (submittedVersion)
- Conicet (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- Funders
- Wildlife Conservation Society
- Rufford Foundation
- Universidad Nacional del Sur
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Evolution and Paleontology Studies
- Keywords
- diet, Andean cat, Leopardus jacobitus, Leopardus colocolo, Lycalopex culpaeus, fecal analysis, DNA-based species identification, Lagidium viscacia, tuco-tuco, Ctenomys, Chinchilla chinchilla, prey specialization, habitat requirements, northern Argentina
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