Xenarthrans in French Guiana: A Brief Overview of Their Distribution and Conservation Status

Abstract

Abstract Nine species of Xenarthra are found in French Guiana, a French overseas region that lies between Suriname and Amapá (Brazil) in the Guianan Shield. Most species seem to occur throughout this ca. 83,000 km2 region, as deduced from distribution data extracted from a database of 470 visual or vouchered observations. Cabassous unicinctus and Cyclopes didactylus have been mostly observed in the northern part of the country, but additional field surveys are necessary before concluding that they have a restricted distribution. Five species (Cabassous unicinctus, Cyclopes didactylus, Myrmecophaga tridactyla, Priodontes maximus, and Tamandua tetradactyla) are fully protected by national or regional laws. Subsistence hunting is allowed for the two species of sloths, and there is no restriction on hunting Dasypus novemcinctus and D. kappleri. Documented threats include roadkills, which are rather common along the few concrete roads (Tamandua tetradactyla is the most common victim), and deforestation, which ...