Diversidad de mamíferos terrestres de talla grande y media de una selva subcaducifolia del noreste de Oaxaca, México

Abstract

The state of Oaxaca, in southeast Mexico is home to an extraordinary biodiversity. But human activities have led to significant changes, including reduction of different natural habitats, especially tropical forests, so it is important to document the diversity of these environments, and their response to the anthropocentric changes. Therefore, this study aimed to estimate the diversity of terrestrial mammals in a tropical forest in northeastern of the state of Oaxaca, Mexico. Three transects were walked to search for tracks, catches of organisms, sightings, and phototrapping from September 2007 to August 2008. There were recorded 15 species of 6 orders, 11 families, and 14 genera, 7 of this not previously known in the region. The most abundant species were Nasua narica, Pécari tajacu, Dasyprocta mexicana, Cuniculus paca, and Leopardus pardalis. Despite the low value of the diversity index compared with similar studies, the presence of species considered at risk by the Mexican law as L. pardalis, L. wiedii, Eira barbara, and Tamanduá mexicana make the area valuable for the conservation of the diversity of the region.