ENDANGERED SPECIES OF IBERÁ
THE MANED WOLF Chrysocyon brachyurus
The Maned Wolf is a solitary animal with a large range and is found only in northern parts of South America., such as Brazil, Eastern Bolivia and Northern Argentina.
It is the largest canid of South America and is the only species in the genus 'Chrysocyon'. It can occasionally be heard, or less often sighted in the Esteros del Iberá. It is listed as Near Threatened in the IUCN redlist although Brazil lists it as Vulnerable.
It lives in mainly grassland areas with low percentages of tree cover and seems adapted to wetlands. (It's toes are specially adapted to walking in marshland.) It looks like a very tall fox with long black legs, a black mane and a white tip to its tail. These long legs are probably an adaptation to enable it to see above its habitat of tall grassland.
It is nocturnal, has no natural predators (other than possibly the Jaguar) and preys on small mammals. In Argentina it is known as Aguará guazú.
It can live up to 15 years in captivity (unknown in the wild) and the female bears up to 5 cubs
GIANT ANTEATER Mymecophaga tridactyla
The Giant Anteater was once common in Corrientes now it is extinct in that area mainly due to the invasion of cattle ranchers with dogs. The dogs which accompany the gauchos attack the Anteaters which are gentle passive creatures but will defend themselves and their young if necessary. They can even defend themselves against the Jaguar or Puma. Sometimes they can kill a dog which means they become a marked animal and the gauchos will pursue and kill the anteater in revenge. Often the females are carrying a juvenile on their backs and these are either sold into the pet trade or just left to die.
Thanks to CLT there are now 20 Anteaters (including 5 births) which have been reintroduced to a safe conservation area of the esteros. They are being monitored carefully by biologists and volunteers and some have radio collars to enable tracking.
They are the largest of the anteaters and the only species in the genus 'mymecophaga'. They have no teeth and a very low metabolism and body temperature.
They have an excellent sense of smell, poor eyesight and hearing is debateable. In my experience they have quite good hearing as they always detected us when we tracked them to within 10 metres or so even though we invariably approached downwind.
They are solitary and only come together with another anteater to mate. Their size is comparable to a Labrador dog with a tail almost as long as the body length which they use to cover their bodies whilst sleeping, presumably to keep warm.
Data suggests that they are nocturnal during the summer and diurnal during the winter - at least in the area of Corrientes. This is probably due to their low tolerance of temperature extremes.
They use their long narrow tongue (length up to 60cm) to probe anthills and termite hills and devour the insects. This normally lasts up to 2 minutes per anthill after which they move on to the next one partially to conserve their food store and partially in order to avoid the soldier ants which will have assembled by this time.
The female bears one offspring which has a weaning time of about 6 months but will stay with its mother for up to a year.
PAMPAS DEER Ozotoceros bezoarticus
The Pampas deer was once very common throughout Argentina but now is confined to three small populations including one in Corrientes. These are small to medium sized deer which are very quick and somewhat like Springboks. They like the open grassy areas of the Pampas and are being threatened by the increasing advance of forestry plantations for which the Argentine government gives grants. They have been driven into a small area under the electric lines which bring power to Buenos Aires from the north and there are no more than about 1000 animals left.
Their range is from Central Brazil, SE Bolivia, Paraguay and NE Argentina. There are 3 sub-species but the Argentine species is the most endangered. They are classed as Near Threatened in the IUCN redlist but critically endangered in Argentina.
Pampas deer have tan fur above with lighter fur on their underside and inside of legs. They have a short tail which is often raised up similar to the White tailed deer. Males can weigh up to 40 kg with females a few kg less.
Natural predators are the Jaguar, which is now extant from this area, and the Puma, as well as humans. The Pampas deer is protected in Argentina.
CLT are working with this species to help protect it and have successfully translocated 7 deer to a safe refuge. 3 offspring have already been born to these translocated animals.
They are known as Venado de Pampa in Argentina
STRANGE TAILED TYRANT Alectrurus risora
The Strange tailed Tyrant lives up to its name as it has a tail twice the length of its body and is quite unusual looking. The male has a featherless throat which turns bright red during the breeding season. Sexual dimorphism is apparent with the female coloured in shades of brown and looking much drabber. She also has a long tail but it is a lot less cumbersome.
The Strange tailed Tyrant has a small range and appears to be resident in small pockets. The range is from Southern Paraguay to NE Argentina with the largest population being in the Esteros del Ibera where it can be locally common. There are also a few pockets left in Brazil and Uruguay.
Their habitat is wet grasslands near marshes and they require tall grass of up to 1.5m for breeding. Their staple diet is invertebrates.
Although they can coexist with cattle, problems occur when grass is routinely burnt as a management technique. They are also intolerant of fertilizers and pesticides.
They are listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN redlist and appear in appendix 1 of CITES. Threats are habitat loss due to afforestation, rice fields and to a lesser extent, cattle ranching.
They are known as Yetepá de Collar in Argentina
MARSH DEER Blastoceus dichotomus
The Marsh Deer is the largest deer in South America and can weigh up to 150kg, which is more than three times the weight of the Pampas deer. The coat is reddish brown with lighter underside and black lower legs. Males can develop antlers up to 60cm in length.
As its name suggests, it is adapted to marsh areas and wetlands and there are several hundred specimens living in the Esteros del Iberá. It is a good swimmer but generally prefers shallow water.
It eats grass, roots and aquatic plants including reeds.
Range of the Marsh deer is generally confined to Paraguay, the far SW of Brazil and the NE of Argentina, although there are some small pockets of these animals in wetlands of Bolivia and Peru.
Threats to this species come from loss of habitat, contact with cattle which can cause disease and a lessening amount of hunting. The dam at Yacyreta on the Argentine/Paraguayan border has caused a large loss of habitat for the Marsh deer owing to the change in water level. Drainage of marshland for rice is also a problem. Natural predators include the Jaguar and the Puma of which there are none of the former and only a handful of the latter in this area.
These are solitary animals although they may form small groups of up to 5 individuals.
The Marsh deer is classed as Vulnerable in the IUCN redlist and is known as Ciervo de los Pantanos in Argentina.
Other endangered mammals in this area include the Neotropical Otter which finally we have managed to see on our remote cameras. We have also had three physical sightings of these mammals at our reserve during the winter. There is also a remote possibility that we may have Giant Otters but there is no evidence of this species yet.
Neotropic Otter (2 mages caught on remote camera)
MARSH SEEDEATER
This seedeater is one of three or four endangered birds found in this area. Their habitat is wet grasslands and marshy areas and it is therefore well suited to the Esteros.
Other endangered seedeaters found here are the Sporophila cinnemomea, S. hypochroma, S. zelichi. We have seen several Sporophila ruficollis (Dark-throated Seedeater) which are classed as NT on the IUCN redlist; adults as well as juveniles so they must breed here.
Threats are the usual habitat loss as well as pesticides.
Dark throated Seedeaters (adult above, juv below)
Rufous-rumped Seedeater
YELLOW CARDINAL
This beautiful bird resembles a large budgerigar and is locally reasonably common in some areas of Ibera. It prefers thorny edges of forests.
It is not related to the ubiquitous Red-crested Cardinal but is from the Thraupidae family. Threats to this species are from habitat loss and from the cagebird industry.
Juvenile Yellow Cardinal
CROWNED EAGLE
In early December 2010, I was privileged to be shown a Crowned Eagle's nest in a reserve about 150 southeast of Don Luis. This is not to be confused with the African Crowned Eagle. We arrived at dusk and were fortunate to see one of these rare birds which appeared to be a juvenile. There was another bird, probably a parent, close by.
The Crowned Solitary Eagle is endemic to South America, specifically Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Bolivia. It is classed as endangered in the IUCN redlist and there are less than 1000 birds left in South America.
It is a large, powerful, crested eagle with long broad wings. The adult colour is mainly grey but the juvenile is more brown. It can measure almost a metre in height.
It's habitat is gallery forests where they usually find a tall tree in which to nest. They seem to favour areas close to marshland or wetland and their diet consists of small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, monkeys and birds.
Threats are habitat loss (as always) and hunting.
We now have pictures of the Black & White Monjita (Xolmis dominicanus) which we saw on Ruta 40 at the end of August and also in November. We have also had reports of these birds in the area around Don Luis. They are classed as VU (vulnerable) in the IUCN redlist.
Black & White Monjita (female)
Black & White Monjita (male)
Finally we have seen the Saffron-Cowled Blackbird (Tordo Amarillo). We visited a nearby reserve in Virasorro and saw several examples of this endangered and rare species. We also heard the endangered Ocre-breasted Pipit (Carlicha Dorada) which has a distinct call. Hopefully photos to follow sometime.......................
Saffron-Cowled Blackbird
