Chacoan peccary

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Chacoan peccary
Male at the Phoenix Zoo
Female at the San Diego Zoo
CITES Appendix I (CITES)[2]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Tayassuidae
Genus: Catagonus
Species:
C. wagneri
Binomial name
Catagonus wagneri
(Rusconi, 1930)
Synonyms

Parachoerus wagneri Rusconi, 1930

The Chacoan peccary or tagua (Catagonus wagneri or Parachoerus wagneri) is the last extant species of the genus Catagonus;[3] it is a peccary found in the Gran Chaco of Paraguay, Bolivia, and Argentina. Approximately 3,000 remain in the world.

The Chacoan peccary has the unusual distinction of having been first described in 1930 based on

Salta
. The species was well known to the native people, but it took a while for Western scientists to acknowledge its existence. It is known locally as the tagua.

Taxonomy

The Chacoan peccary is notable in that it is not the type species of its genus, Catagonus, despite being the only living representative. Instead, the type is the extinct Catagonus metropolitanus. Such a case is an example of a Lazarus taxon, and shares this trait with another South American native, the bush dog. The Chacoan peccary was first described by scientists in 1972.[4]

A 2017 study on the phylogenetic systematics of

narrow-headed peccary (C. stenocephalus) should be moved into Brasiliochoerus, while the Chacoan peccary, Catagonus bonaerensis and Catagonus carlesi should be placed in Parachoerus.[5]
If this is accepted, then Catagonus becomes an extinct genus once more.

Habitat

The Chacoan peccary is confined to hot, dry areas. Dominated by low-lying

sinuses
to combat dry, dusty conditions. Their feet are also small, which allows maneuverability among spiny plants.

Physical characteristics

The largest of the three generally accepted species of

peccaries, the Chacoan peccary has many pig-like features. It is an ungulate with a well-formed rostrum with a tough leathery snout. The bristle-like hair is generally brown to almost gray. A dark stripe runs across the back, and white fur is on the shoulders. Chacoan peccaries differ from other peccary species by having longer ears, snouts, and tails. It has white hairs around the mouth, unlike other peccaries. Catagonus wagneri also has a third hind toe, but other peccaries only have two. The hypsodont teeth follow this dental formula: 2/3, 1/1, 3/3, 3/3. The upper canines display the distinguishing trait of peccaries, pointing downwards instead of out and up like pigs, which may be a signal for other peccaries to keep the group together through the dense bush.[6]

Reproduction

Young are generally born between September and December, but litters have been found almost year-round. Births have been linked to periods of food abundance and rainfall. The average number of embryos has been recorded as approximately 2.72. Females may leave the herd to give birth and then return afterwards. Newborns are

precocial, able to run a few hours after birth. The pelage of the young resembles that of the adults. There is no sexual dimorphism
.

Behavior

Chacoan peccaries often travel in herds of up to 20 individuals. They are active during the day, especially in the morning when they are most apt to travel. Herds display a general travel cycle within their home range of 42 days. This allows the individuals to monitor and show ownership over their areas.

These social mammals communicate by various sounds, ranging from grunts to chatters of the teeth. Though individuals may occasionally exhibit aggressive behavior such as charging and biting, this species is not as aggressive as others.

As a defensive strategy, members of a herd may line up in a defensive wall; this makes the herds harder targets for hunters. The Chacoan peccary produces a milky, odorous substance used for marking trees, shrubs, and similar. The substance is secreted from glands located on their backs, and is dispersed by rubbing. Frequently bathing in mud or dust, Chacoan peccaries also defecate at particular "stations".

St Louis Zoo

Food habits

The arid habitat of the Gran Chaco region provides very tough vegetation for the Chacoan peccary. These peccaries feed on various species of

salt licks
.

Conservation status

Catagonus wagneri in Teniente Enciso National Park, Boquerón, Paraguay.

Because the Chacoan peccary is endemic to a formerly isolated region of South America, it is most vulnerable to human activity. Just as quickly as this species is discovered in an area, it disappears. Herd numbers are decreasing as a result of

habitat loss and fragmentation. Their range is being quickly transformed into large Texas-style ranches
. Hunting also continues, as well as an unidentified disease that has plagued the herds in recent years. A population has been established in North American and European zoos. Preserves have also been established in Paraguay, but are not highly enforced.

References

Further reading

External links