Space use by wild Greater Rhea (Rhea Americana) in a relict grassland of central Argentina during the non-breeding season

Abstract

To determine movement patterns and home range of wild Greater Rhea (Rhea americana), two subadult males were radio-tracked during the non-breeding season in a relict grassland of San Luis Province, Argentina. The average home range was 452.8 ha, the average daily distance travelled was 1.08 km/day, and the maximum distance from the capture/release site was 13.66 km. Rheas showed differences in habitat types used throughout the day. Grasslands were more frequently used early in the morning and late in the afternoon, whereas cultivated pastures (Medicago sativa) were used at noon. Although data is considered preliminary due to the small sample size, the importance of this study is here emphasized because it provides the first records of the spatial ecology of wild individuals for this species.