Abstract

BRESSIANI, Vinícius B.  and  GRAIPEL, Maurício E.. Comparison of methods for capture of water-opossum Chironectes minimus (ZIMMERMAN, 1780) (MAMMALIA, DIDELPHIDAE) in southern Brazil. Mastozool. neotrop. [online]. 2008, vol.15, n.1, pp.33-39. ISSN 0327-9383.

The lack of knowledge about the biology of Chironectes minimus is probably due to difficulties in capturing specimens. Therefore, two methods using "Young" traps with two types of live baits were performed and compared with the standard method (control). The study was carried out from February to June 2003 in two streams in the Parque Municipal da Lagoa do Peri, Santa Catarina Island in southern Brazil. Four individuals were captured two times and aspects of the biology of the species were recorded. All captures were made with the control method. Traps set on narrow passages of the river, with rocks and roots, were more effective to capture C. minimus. The capture success was 4% when only this method was considered. Positive and negative aspects of each method are discussed.

Keywords : Atlantic Rain Forest; Baits; Learning; Marsupials; Traps.

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