World Heritage Site:
Los Alerces National Park
Publication Year:
2020
Publication Type:
Article
Publication Identifier:
WHE36C6E1855B
Summary
Researchers have documented two new, reliable records of the Guigna (Leopardus guigna), a small, endangered felid native to Argentina and Chile's Valdivian Temperate Forests. These sightings occurred in Los Alerces National Park, Chubut Province, marking the southernmost confirmed presence of the species within a protected area. One individual was found dead near Amutui Quimei Lake, while another was captured in a trap near Menéndez Lake, both in Nothofagus-dominated forest habitats close to watercourses. The study underscores the critical need for habitat connectivity between protected areas, particularly in regions with significant human activity, to ensure long-term Guigna population viability. Further fieldwork is recommended to expand knowledge on its distribution, ecology, and habitat use.
Citation
Guerisoli, M. d. l. M., Schiaffini, M. I., & Bauer, G. (2020). Updating records of a threatened felid species of the Argentinian Patagonia: the Guigna Leopardus guigna (Molina, 1782) (Mammalia: Carnivora: Felidae) in Los Alerces National Park. Journal of Threatened Taxa, 12(16), 17252–17257. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.6208.12.16.17252-17257