New records and update on the geographic distribution of Lontra longicaudis (Olfers, 1818) (Carnivora: Mustelidae) in Seasonally Dry Tropical Forests of northeastern Brazil

Abstract

We confirmed occurrences of Lontra longicaudis (Olfers, 1818) in Seasonally Dry Tropical Forests (Caatinga) of 10 river basins in northeastern Brazil, reporting the first records of the species in five of them. The species was not found in river basins totally inserted in Caatinga, nor where Caatinga borders Cerrado (Piauí state), indicating a gap in the species distribution. We report the first otter occurrence in Piauí, in the Cerrado biome of the southern part of the state. The relevance of these results for Neotropical Otter conservation is discussed, and an update of the species distribution map is proposed.