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Procyonids are well known biologically but knowledge of their fossil record is comparatively sparse. This study seeks to describe a sample of late Blancan procyonid fossils composed mostly of postcranial and dental material. Fossils are analyzed using linear and 2D geometric morphometrics and compared with a large sample of modern specimens from a wide geographic area to understand the range of intraspecific variation. The large Procyon species is described as a new taxon based on morphology of the postcrania and lower dentition, while another Procyon species is also described as new due to an apomorphy in the upper dentition. A new species of coati (genus Nasua) is identified and described based on lower dentition and postcranial morphology. The Blancan species P. rexroadensis is synonymized with P. lotor because the distinguishing dental feature for which the species is named is within the range of variation for P. lotor.

Made available in DSpace on 2013-08-07T19:12:23Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 000422673-Texto+Completo-0.pdf: 2300017 bytes, checksum: 2442a220c237880099c56943e10dbc17 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009 / Comparative phylogeographic analyses are useful to shed light on common historical processes affecting regional faunas, as well as to identify species-specific life history features that may influence their genetic legacy. Here we performed phylogeographic analysis of two medium-sized Neotropical carnivores, the brown-nosed coati (Nasua nasua) and the crab-eating raccoon (Procyon cancrivorus), using mitochondrial DNA and microsatellite markers, in order to characterize and compare their patterns of genetic diversity and underlying evolutionary history. We also describe the isolation and characterization of eight polymorphic microsatellite loci for brown-nosed coatis (N. nasua). Both species are farily common in the wild and present in a wide variety of habitats, being sympatric throughout most of their ranges. However, different phylogeographic and diversity patterns were found for both markers: mitochondrial DNA analyses showed levels of diversity that were up to ten-fold higher for N. nasua relative to P. cancrivorus. Six reciprocally monophyletic mtDNA phylogroups were recognized for N. nasua, which were also supported as distinct populations by the microsatellite analyses. In contrast, the mtDNA data set for P. cancrivorus indicated the existence of three recognizable population units, but the magnitude of their differentiation was much less pronounced than that observed in N. nasua. Moreover, the microsatellite data did not support any genetic subdivision in this species, suggesting that full connectivity is maintain throughout all sampled areas. These results demonstrate that these species have very distinct evolutionary histories, which may at least in part be a consequence of differences in social structure and dispersal patterns. These results highlight the evolutionary complexity of the Neotropical biota, and underscore the need for multi-species analyses employing comparable data sets so that common and contrasting patterns can be adequately investigated. / Estudos filogeográficos comparados são úteis na compreensão de processos históricos compartilhados que afetam faunas regionais, bem como na identificação de padrões espécie-específicos que podem influenciar suas atuais características genéticas. Neste estudo, foram realizadas análises filogeográficas de dois carnívoros Neotropicais de médio porte, o quati de focinho marrom (Nasua nasua) e o mão pelada (Procyon cancrivorus), usando marcadores mitocondriais e microssatélites, afim de caracterizar e comparar seus padrões de diversidade genética e compreender sua história evolutiva. Adicionalmente, descreve-se o isolamento e a caracterização de oito loci polimórficos de microssatélites para Nasua nasua. Ambas as espécies são bastante comuns na natureza e estão presentes em uma ampla variedade de habitats, sendo simpátricas ao longo da maior parte de sua distribuição. No entanto, diferentes padrões filogeográficos e de diversidade genética foram encontrados para N. nasua e P. cancrivorus: análises de DNA mitocondrial mostraram níveis de diversidade até dez vezes superiores para N. nasua com relação a P. cancrivorus. Adicionalmente, os mesmos marcadores revelaram a existência de 6 filogrupos reciprocamente monofiléticos para N. nasua, os quais também são suportados como populações distintas pelas análises de microssatélites. De maneira distinta, as análises de DNA mitocondrial para P. cancrivorus indicam a existência de três unidades populacionais; no entanto, a magnitude desta diferenciação foi muito menos evidente do que a observada em N. nasua. Além disso, os dados de microssatélites não suportaram a existência de qualquer subdivisão genética para P. cancrivorus, sugerindo que persiste uma completa conectividade entre todas as áreas amostradas. Estes resultados demonstram que estas espécies apresentam uma historia evolutiva bastante distinta, a qual pelo menos em parte pode ser atribuída a diferenças na estrutura social e no padrão de dispersão das mesmas. Tais resultados destacam a complexidade evolutiva da biota Neotropical e ressaltam a necessidade de análises multi-espécies empregando conjuntos de dados comparáveis, de forma que padrões comuns e contrastantes possam ser adequadamente investigados.

The family Procyonidae (raccoons, coatis, olingos, ringtails, kinkajous, and their extinct relatives) consists of six extant genera and is restricted to North and South America. Currently recognized fossil species suggest that procyonid diversity was previously much greater, including six extinct genera throughout South America. However, it is unusual that so many confamilial taxa are represented in a relatively brief span of time and restricted geographic region, and, considering that six of ten are based on badly preserved specimens, often fragments of bone with worn teeth, the validity of many of these taxa is suspect. As a step towards reevaluating past procyonid diversity in South America, we sought to identify the degree of intra- and interspecific variation in six molariform teeth of extant Procyon, particularly to identify which teeth are potentially most useful for identifying fossil procyonids. The six molariform cheek teeth analyzed consistently yielded smaller intra- than interspecific variation, permitting high accuracy of taxonomic classification. However, this accuracy varied by tooth, and the upper and lower first molars proved to be the most reliable. Thus, these particular teeth should be preferred, if available, as bases for recognizing extinct species of procyonids or reevaluating currently recognized extinct species, as a means to prevent nomina dubia.

Although five genera of procyonids are currently present in South America, only two of the extant genera, Procyon and Nasua are represented in the South American fossil record. A recent discovery of a procyonid lower second molar in Late Pleistocene deposits of Aurora do Tocantins, northern Brazil, offers potential to further our understanding of the stratigraphic and temporal range of South American fossil procyonids. We use geometric morphometric analysis of two-dimensional landmarks and semilandmarks to explore morphological variation in the lower second molars of extant Procyon lotor and Procyon cancrivorus and multivariate methods to support the identification of the Pleistocene specimen as P. cancrivorus. This material represents the second fossil record of P. cancrivorus in South America Procyonids entered South America in two phases: the first comprising by Cyonasua and Chapadmalania during the Late Miocene, and the other recent genera, beginning in the Late Pleistocene. These Late Miocene procyonids were more carnivorous than Late Pleistocene-Recent omnivorous taxa and possible went extinct due to competition with other placental carnivorans that entered South America and diversified during the latest Pliocene-Early Pleistocene.

Although five genera of procyonids are currently present in South America, only two of the extant genera, Procyon and Nasua are represented in the South American fossil record. A recent discovery of a procyonid lower second molar in Late Pleistocene deposits of Aurora do Tocantins, northern Brazil, offers potential to further our understanding of the stratigraphic and temporal range of South American fossil procyonids. We use geometric morphometric analysis of two-dimensional landmarks and semilandmarks to explore morphological variation in the lower second molars of extant Procyon lotor and Procyon cancrivorus and multivariate methods to support the identification of the Pleistocene specimen as P. cancrivorus. This material represents the second fossil record of P. cancrivorus in South America Procyonids entered South America in two phases: the first comprising by Cyonasua and Chapadmalania during the Late Miocene, and the other recent genera, beginning in the Late Pleistocene. These Late Miocene procyonids were more carnivorous than Late Pleistocene-Recent omnivorous taxa and possible went extinct due to competition with other placental carnivorans that entered South America and diversified during the latest Pliocene-Early Pleistocene.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-07-29T15:13:46Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao Kleber Fernando Pereira.pdf: 1118848 bytes, checksum: 4671bfd9ffd403997392e07dda224e2d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-03-02 / The raccoon (Procyon cancrivorus) is a wild carnivore, reaching one meter in length including the tail, and weigh up to 10 kg. Known as raccoon or mouse naked hand washer has the peculiarity to dive in the water everything she eats. It has nocturnal and crepuscular, terrestrial and arboreal climber, a resident of shrub areas, preferably near water courses, is a good swimmer with great ability to dig, climb and is living alone. This thesis has generated the production of two articles. In the first article, entitled "Origin and anatomical distribution of the ischiatic nerve of raccoon", it was proposed to study the anatomy of the ischiatic nerve of raccoon in order to build morphological basis of this nerve with the aim of comparative neurology, and thus provide necessary support especially for the practices used in clinical medicine and surgery. The ischiatic nerve of the raccoon comes from the ventral ramus of the sixth and seventh nerves lumbar and first sacral nerve, resembling the origin of the guinea pig. Leaves the pelvic cavity through the greater ischiatic foramen, presenting themselves surrounded by the superficial gluteal muscles, biceps femoris and caudal crural abductor, this path similar to the dog and is distributed to the gluteus biceps, gluteus medius, gluteus deep, as well as observed in goats Saanen, and quadratus femoris muscles twin, resembling in dog, cat and pig, biceps femoris, semitendinosus, semimembranosus, observed in all specimens analyzed and adductor magnus, only observed raccoon. In all specimens are compared, the ischiatic nerve ends by bifurcating into the tibial and common peroneal nerve. In the second article, entitled "Morphological Aspects of the salivary glands of crab-eating raccoon (Procyon cancrivorus)" were described morphological aspects of salivary glands and their ducts located in Procyon cancrivorus and compare with literature data on the morphology of domestic and wild animals such as dogs, cats, skunks and raccoons. The salivary glands of the raccoon are formed by the parotid, mandibular, sublingual and zygomatic. The parotid gland shows irregular triangular shape and mandibular rounded contour is observed surrounded by a fibrous capsule. The sublingual is divided into two parts: a caudal part which lies in the region occiptomandibular the digastric muscle and the rostral part lies between the mucous membrane of the mouth and mylohyoid muscle with its respective duct. The zygomatic gland is small and rounded, situated in the rostral part of the pterygopalatine fossa. The anatomical knowledge of the origin and distribution of the ischiatic nerve and the morphology of the salivary glands when compared with bare hand domestic and wild animals, provides contributions to medicine and surgery in wild animals and for future studies on the general biology of the species. / O mão-pelada (Procyon cancrivorus) é um carnívoro silvestre, podendo chegar a 1 metro de comprimento incluindo a cauda, e pesar até 10 kg. Conhecido como guaxinim, mão-pelada ou rato lavador têm a peculiaridade de mergulhar na água tudo o que come. Possui hábito noturno e crepuscular, escalador arborícola e terrícola, habitante de áreas arbustivas, preferencialmente próximas a cursos de água, é um bom nadador com ótimas habilidades para cavar, escalar e tem vida solitária. A presente tese gerou a produção de dois artigos. No primeiro artigo, Origem e distribuição anatômica do nervo isquiático de mão-pelada , propôs-se estudar a anatomia do nervo isquiático de mão-pelada, a fim de assentar bases morfológicas deste nervo visando à neurologia comparativa, e assim fornecer subsídios necessários especialmente para as práticas utilizadas nas clínicas médica e cirúrgica. O nervo isquiático do mão-pelada origina-se do ramo ventral do sexto e sétimo nervos lombares e primeiro nervo sacral, assemelhando-se com a origem em preá. Deixa a cavidade pélvica através do forame isquiático maior, apresentando-se envolvido pelos músculos glúteo superficial, bíceps femoral e abdutor caudal crural, trajeto este semelhante com o cão e distribui-se para os músculos glúteo bíceps, glúteo médio, glúteo profundo, assim como observado em caprinos da raça Saanen, músculos quadrado femoral e gêmeo, assemelhando-se em cão, gato e suíno, músculos bíceps femoral, semitendíneo, semimembranáceo, observado em todos os espécimes analisadas e adutor magno, verificado apenas em mão-pelada. Em todos os espécimes comparados, o nervo isquiático termina bifurcando-se em nervo tibial e fibular comum. No segundo artigo, Morphological aspects of the salivary glands of crab-eating racoon (Procyon cancrivorus) foram descritos os aspectos morfológicos das glândulas salivares e a localização dos seus ductos em Procyon cancrivorus, e comparar com dados literários sobre a morfologia de animais domésticos e silvestres, como cão, gato, gambás e quatis. As glândulas salivares do mão-pelada são formadas pelas glândulas parótida, mandibular, sublingual e zigomática. A glândula parótida apresenta formato irregularmente triangular e a mandibular observa-se contorno arredondado circundada por uma cápsula fibrosa. A sublingual se divide em duas partes: uma parte caudal que se situa na região occiptomandibular do músculo digástrico e a parte rostral situa-se entre a túnica mucosa da boca e o músculo milo-hióideo com seu respectivo ducto. A glândula zigomática é pequena e arredondada, situada na parte rostral da fossa pterigopalatina. O conhecimento anatômico da origem e distribuição do nervo isquiático e da morfologia das glândulas salivares do mão-pelada, quando comparado com animais domésticos e silvestres, oferece contribuições para a clínica médica e cirúrgica em animais silvestres e para futuros estudos sobre a biologia geral da espécie.

Der Nordamerikanische Waschbär (Procyon lotor Linné, 1758) gehört zu den neozonalen Vertretern der heimischen Raubsäugerfauna. Seit den 1990er Jahren tritt der in Deutschland mittlerweile fest etablierte Kleinbär verstärkt in Erscheinung und ist damit Auslöser kontroverser Diskussionen über negative Auswirkungen auf einheimische Tierarten sowie über seine Rolle als potentieller Krankheitsüberträger. Ausgehend von der Hypothese, dass der Waschbär durch Prädation lokale Bestände naturschutzfachlich relevanter Tierarten beeinträchtigen kann, wurden Waschbär-Kotproben aus einem naturnahen Tieflandbuchenwald im Müritz-Nationalpark (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern) nahrungsökologisch und im Hinblick auf den Endoparasitenbefall analysiert. Das Untersuchungsgebiet repräsentiert ein charakteristisches Binnenentwässerungsgebiet der nordostdeutschen Tiefebene, das hinsichtlich der Ressourcenausstattung ein überaus geeignetes Habitat für Waschbären darstellt. Gleichzeitig wurde anhand eines Referenzgebietes im Naturpark Feldberger Seenlandschaft (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern) geprüft, ob der Waschbär in einem anthropogen beeinflussten Lebensraum aufgrund schlechterer Ressourcenausstattung einen größeren Prädationseinfluss haben kann. Die vorliegende Dissertation ist Teil eines mehrjährigen, integrierten Forschungsprojektes (Projekt Waschbär), welches zwischen 2006 und 2011 im Teilgebiet Serrahn des Müritz-Nationalparks durchgeführt wurde. / The North American raccoon (Procyon lotor L., 1758) is an introduced carnivore species in Germany. Against the background of a vast in­crease of raccoon numbers in Germany over the last years, a contro­versial dis­cussion has developed regarding the influence of the new inha­bi­­tant on indi­genous resp. pro­tec­ted species and the potential trans­mission of diseases and parasites. Based on the hypothesis that raccoons may affect local stock of ecological relevant species through predation raccoon faecal samples were collected in a close to nature beech forest in the Müritz National Park (Mecklenburg-Western ­­Pome­ra­nia, Germany) and analysed with regard to nutrition ecology and endoparasite infes­ta­tion. The study area represents a characteris­tic inland drainage area of North-Eastern German lowlands, which provides a very suitable habitat for raccoons with regards to essential resour­ces. Simulta­neously, examinations were carried out in raccoons from a control area in the Nature Park Feldberger Seen­land­schaft (Mecklenburg-Western ­­Pome­ra­nia), focusing on the question as to whether raccoons might have higher ecological impact in an anthropogenically modified habitat due to poorer food resources. This thesis is part of a long-term and integrated research project (Projekt Waschbär), which was con­­­ducted between 2006 and 2011 in the subterritory Serrahn of the Müritz National Park.

In der Dissertation werden Fragen zur Populationsbiologie des neozonalen Nordamerikanischen Waschbären (Procyon lotor) behandelt. Die knapp sechsjährigen Freilanduntersuchungen fanden im Rahmen eines umfangreichen Waschbärenforschungsprojektes (www.projekt-waschbaer.de) in einem naturnahen Tieflandbuchenwald im Müritz-Nationalpark (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern) statt. Das Nationalparkgebiet wird nachweislich seit Ende der 1970er Jahre vom Waschbären besiedelt und stellt aufgrund seines Gewässerreichtums und seiner alten Laubbaumbestände einen idealen Lebensraum für Waschbären dar. Die Dissertation schließt die populationsbiologischen Arbeiten des Gesamtprojektes ab und stellt die Ergebnisse in fünf separaten Themenschwerpunkten vor (I. Raumverhalten, II. Sozialverhalten, III. Reproduktionsbiologie, IV. Populationsstruktur, V. Populationsdynamik). Übergeordnetes Ziel der Arbeit war die Erhebung valider populationsbiologischer Daten, um eine grundlegende ökologische Charakterisierung des Waschbären unter dem Aspekt des Natur- und Artenschutzes vornehmen zu können. Dazu wurden zwischen 2006 und 2011 in einem 1.114 ha großen Fallennetz im Serrahner Teilgebiet des Nationalparks an 53 verschiedenen Fallenstandorten 145 verschiedene Waschbären (62 ♀♀, 83 ♂♂) insgesamt 489 Mal gefangen, genetisch beprobt, vermessen und individuell markiert. 51 adulte Waschbären (23 ♀♀, 28 ♂♂) und 18 Jungtiere (10 ♀♀, 8 ♂♂) wurden darüber hinaus mit einem UKW-Halsbandsender ausgestattet und im Rahmen der telemetrischen Arbeiten insgesamt 31.202 Mal geortet (≙ im Mittel 452 Lokalisationen pro Tier). Im Kernuntersuchungsgebiet wurde an 36 beköderten Standorten ein Fotofallenmonitoring durchgeführt. Bei einer Überwachungsdauer von 5.365 Fotofallennächten entstanden dabei 18.721 Aufnahmen von 183 verschiedenen Waschbären. 82 % aller Waschbärenbilder zeigten individuell markierte Individuen. Alle 145 gefangenen Waschbären wurden im Rahmen eines separaten Teilprojektes mit hochvariablen Mikrosatelliten erfolgreich genotypisiert, so dass die Verwandtschaftsverhältnisse sowie der individuelle Reproduktionserfolg der Untersuchungstiere bekannt sind. Für die Analysen zur Populationsstruktur wurden unter anderem von 120 verendet aufgefunden Waschbären (Totfunden) aus dem unmittelbaren Umfeld des Nationalparks klassische morphometrische und phänotypische Merkmale sowie die Mortalitätsursachen erfasst. / This study considers questions concerning the spatial and social behaviour, reproduction, population structure and dynamics of the alien North American raccoon (Procyon lotor) in Germany. The investigations took place within the framework of a comprehensive raccoon research project (www.projekt-waschbaer.de) over a period of nearly six years in a close-to-nature lowland beech forest in the Müritz National Park (Mecklenburg-West Pomerania). The National Park has been verifiably colonized by raccoons since the end of the 1970s, and due to its abundance of water and its old deciduous tree population it represents an ideal habitat for this mammal. Between 2006 and 2011, 145 individual raccoons (62 ♀♀ and 83 ♂♂) were captured, genetically sampled, measured and individually tagged. Sampling took place within a 1,114 hectare area of the National Park, at 53 trap sites and with 489 trappings. 51 adult raccoons (23 ♀♀, 28 ♂♂) and 18 juveniles (10 ♀♀, 8 ♂♂) were also fitted with radio collars and located a total of 31,202 times as part of the telemetric survey (=452 localisations per individual). Camera trap monitoring was carried out at 36 baited locations of the main investigation area (1,628 ha): 18,721 camera trap pictures were taken of 183 different raccoons over a monitorring period of 5,365 nights. 82 % of all the raccoon pictures showed individually tagged ani-mals. All 145 of the trapped raccoons were successfully genotyped as part of a subproject with highly polymorphic microsatellites. Both the familial relationships and the individual reproductive success of the subject animals could be determined with the genotyping results. For the analyses of the population structure, classic morphometric and phenotypical characteristics, as well as the cause of mortality of 120 raccoon carcasses in the immediate vicinity of the National Park, were recorded.

In der Dissertation werden Fragen zur Populationsbiologie des neozonalen Nordamerikanischen Waschbären (Procyon lotor) behandelt. Die knapp sechsjährigen Freilanduntersuchungen fanden im Rahmen eines umfangreichen Waschbärenforschungsprojektes (www.projekt-waschbaer.de) in einem naturnahen Tieflandbuchenwald im Müritz-Nationalpark (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern) statt. Das Nationalparkgebiet wird nachweislich seit Ende der 1970er Jahre vom Waschbären besiedelt und stellt aufgrund seines Gewässerreichtums und seiner alten Laubbaumbestände einen idealen Lebensraum für Waschbären dar. Die Dissertation schließt die populationsbiologischen Arbeiten des Gesamtprojektes ab und stellt die Ergebnisse in fünf separaten Themenschwerpunkten vor (I. Raumverhalten, II. Sozialverhalten, III. Reproduktionsbiologie, IV. Populationsstruktur, V. Populationsdynamik). Übergeordnetes Ziel der Arbeit war die Erhebung valider populationsbiologischer Daten, um eine grundlegende ökologische Charakterisierung des Waschbären unter dem Aspekt des Natur- und Artenschutzes vornehmen zu können. Dazu wurden zwischen 2006 und 2011 in einem 1.114 ha großen Fallennetz im Serrahner Teilgebiet des Nationalparks an 53 verschiedenen Fallenstandorten 145 verschiedene Waschbären (62 ♀♀, 83 ♂♂) insgesamt 489 Mal gefangen, genetisch beprobt, vermessen und individuell markiert. 51 adulte Waschbären (23 ♀♀, 28 ♂♂) und 18 Jungtiere (10 ♀♀, 8 ♂♂) wurden darüber hinaus mit einem UKW-Halsbandsender ausgestattet und im Rahmen der telemetrischen Arbeiten insgesamt 31.202 Mal geortet (≙ im Mittel 452 Lokalisationen pro Tier). Im Kernuntersuchungsgebiet wurde an 36 beköderten Standorten ein Fotofallenmonitoring durchgeführt. Bei einer Überwachungsdauer von 5.365 Fotofallennächten entstanden dabei 18.721 Aufnahmen von 183 verschiedenen Waschbären. 82 % aller Waschbärenbilder zeigten individuell markierte Individuen. Alle 145 gefangenen Waschbären wurden im Rahmen eines separaten Teilprojektes mit hochvariablen Mikrosatelliten erfolgreich genotypisiert, so dass die Verwandtschaftsverhältnisse sowie der individuelle Reproduktionserfolg der Untersuchungstiere bekannt sind. Für die Analysen zur Populationsstruktur wurden unter anderem von 120 verendet aufgefunden Waschbären (Totfunden) aus dem unmittelbaren Umfeld des Nationalparks klassische morphometrische und phänotypische Merkmale sowie die Mortalitätsursachen erfasst. / This study considers questions concerning the spatial and social behaviour, reproduction, population structure and dynamics of the alien North American raccoon (Procyon lotor) in Germany. The investigations took place within the framework of a comprehensive raccoon research project (www.projekt-waschbaer.de) over a period of nearly six years in a close-to-nature lowland beech forest in the Müritz National Park (Mecklenburg-West Pomerania). The National Park has been verifiably colonized by raccoons since the end of the 1970s, and due to its abundance of water and its old deciduous tree population it represents an ideal habitat for this mammal. Between 2006 and 2011, 145 individual raccoons (62 ♀♀ and 83 ♂♂) were captured, genetically sampled, measured and individually tagged. Sampling took place within a 1,114 hectare area of the National Park, at 53 trap sites and with 489 trappings. 51 adult raccoons (23 ♀♀, 28 ♂♂) and 18 juveniles (10 ♀♀, 8 ♂♂) were also fitted with radio collars and located a total of 31,202 times as part of the telemetric survey (=452 localisations per individual). Camera trap monitoring was carried out at 36 baited locations of the main investigation area (1,628 ha): 18,721 camera trap pictures were taken of 183 different raccoons over a monitorring period of 5,365 nights. 82 % of all the raccoon pictures showed individually tagged ani-mals. All 145 of the trapped raccoons were successfully genotyped as part of a subproject with highly polymorphic microsatellites. Both the familial relationships and the individual reproductive success of the subject animals could be determined with the genotyping results. For the analyses of the population structure, classic morphometric and phenotypical characteristics, as well as the cause of mortality of 120 raccoon carcasses in the immediate vicinity of the National Park, were recorded.