New Paraguayan records of Xenarthra with a review of the species present in Ñeembucú department

Abstract

This article provides an update of the distribution of the Xenarthra fauna of Paraguay. Tamandua tetradactyla is confirmed to occur in all Paraguayan departments. New departmental records of Myrme-cophaga tridactyla are reported for Ñeembucú, Paraguarí, and San Pedro. Dasypus novemcinctus is reported for Ñeembucú department for the first time. Two previous species (Dasypus hybridus and Cabassous tatouay) considered to occur in Ñeembucú department based on specimens in the Basel Natural History Museum are now considered doubtful. A public interest in reports of Myrmecophagidae in Paraguay is noted and it is suggested that it could be utilized to benefit the conservation of these species in the Oriental region, where both species are rarely encountered.