Ecologia do tatu-canastra (Priodontes maximus) na região de Uberaba, Triângulo Mineiro, sudeste do Brasil.

Abstract

The giant armadillo (Priodontes maximus) is one of the large mammals that inhabit the Brazilian Cerrado, generally occurring in low population densities and that can live in a wide diversity of environments, however, its habitat preferences, shapes and distances traveled still are uncertain and need to be further evaluated. In this context, in the municipality of Uberaba, the burrows made by the giant armadillo in several areas were identified and georeferenced, having as a starting point the Private Natural Heritage Reserve – Vale Encantado (RPPN – VE). The soil and predominant vegetation in the areas where giant armadillos are found were classified. It was observed that there was a 51% increase in the number of burrows/holes identified in the Vale Encantado Natural Heritage Private Reserve (RPPN-VE) in Uberaba, MG, comparing a study carried out in 2014; 81 giant armadillo burrows/holes were identified and georeferenced in the study area; The giant armadillo burrows/holes were mostly observed (65%) in areas where the Cerrado stricto sensu (41%) and Cerradão (23%) phytophysiognomies predominate; The times of activity of the giant armadillo recorded in this study reinforce the pattern of strictly nocturnal activity of the species, with around 96% of activity between 8 pm and 6 am; Considering the physico-chemical parameters of the soil samples analyzed, it was verified in all of them that the places where traces of the species are present are composed of acid soils, of low fertility and sandy texture; About 97% of the burrows/holes found are at altitudes greater than 800 meters.