Abstract

LUCHERINI, Mauro; SOLER, Lucía  and  LUENGOS VIDAL, Estela. A preliminary revision of knowledge status of felids in Argentina. Mastozool. neotrop. [online]. 2004, vol.11, n.1, pp.7-17. ISSN 0327-9383.

Argentina is the host of 10 wild felids (28% of the world total). Although the Cat Specialist Group Action Plan has classified the conservation status of Argentine cats as relatively good, the ranking was based on a largely incomplete database for at least 80% of the species. Here we review the current status of knowledge and research effort of Argentine cats, compare it with their distribution, habitat association and conservation status and provide guidelines for their future research. Between 1990 and 2000, cat research has received increasing attention in Argentina. Twenty-four projects have been carried out, but only 13 studies are still in progress. A rank of research priority has been calculated for each felid and ecoregion. Our analysis showed that the Andean and Brazilian Araucaria tropical forests and Patagonia steppe are the three ecoregions with the highest priority for future cat research. The kodkod (Oncifelis guigna), Andean mountain cat (Oreailurus jacobita) and oncilla (Leopardus tigrina) had the highest score. This ranking method is the first systematic attempt to identify research priorities based on the comparison between study effort and conservation priority of both the species in object and their habitats.

Keywords : Argentina; carnivores; conservation; diversity; ecoregions; felids; Latin America; Leopardus tigrina; Oncifelis guigna; Oreailurus jacobita.

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