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Tropical ungulates of ecuador: An update of the state of knowledge

Abstract:

In Ecuador, there are 12 recognized species and 16 taxa of neotropical ungulates. The tapirs (Tapiridae) include two species: Tapirus pinchaque and T. terrestris, present in highlands and humid tropical and subtropical forest in the Amazon, respectively; traditionally, a third species of tapir was added to the Ecuadorian fauna, Tapirus bairdii; however, there are no concrete records and its presence is not supported by any form of evidence. Within the peccaries (Tayassuidae), two species are recognized: Pecari tajacu and Tayassu pecari; both are sympatric in most of their range, and niche overlap is high. The camelids (Camelidae) have three species, two domesticated and with historical presence in the country for more than 500 years: Lama glama and Vicugna pacos; and Vicugna vicugna, a species that was considered extinct in Ecuador and initially treated as reintroduced; however, there is no evidence to confirm the historical presence of this species in Ecuador. The situation of deer (Cervidae) is more complex. This family includes three genera and five species, but with several unresolved taxonomic problems. The genus Mazama is widely distributed in Ecuador, and three species have been known to occur in Ecuador: M. americana, M. nemorivaga, and M. rufina. The taxonomic knowledge of the Mazama americana sensu lato in Ecuador is still incomplete, and a detailed revision is still pending, especially for the specimens west of the Andes. The taxonomic status of Odocoileus virginianus and its subspecies is also incomplete and needs a detailed review. In Ecuador, the two recognized subspecies (O. v. ustus and O. v. peruvianus) have been treated as valid species by some authors. Finally, Hippocamelus antisensis was a species reported in Ecuador since 1851, and with a series of records in the country in the following decades. It was excluded from Ecuadorian fauna in the absence of supporting evidence.