Running over of mammals on roads of Santa Catarina state, southern Brazil

Abstract

Road deaths represent a factor of great impact on fauna. This is probably one of the main causes of mortality, even for threatened species. However, studies on this subject are unknown in Santa Catarina state, southern Brazil. Considering this lack, the present study presents records of medium to large-sized mammals killed by vehicles on the roads of this state between August 2000 and November 2005. In total, 257 records were made from 20 mammal species, most of which were obtained from the BR 116, BR 282 and BR 470 highways. Cerdocyon thous was the commonest species (82 records; 31.9%), followed by Didelphis albiventris (44; 17.1%), Procyon cancrivorus (21; 8.2%), Conepatus chinga (19; 7.4%), Dasypus novemcinctus (14; 5.4%), Tamandua tetradactyla (14; 5.4%) and Sphiggurus villosus (13; 5.1%). Leopardus tigrinus (5; 1.9%), L. wiedii (1; 0.4%) and one unidentified Leopardus individual were recorded as threatened species. This indicates a high number of mammals run over on the roads of Santa Catarina state, and hence the necessity of specific studies on this subject and the construction of tunnels and fences for animal passage.

Keywords

• mammals
• road deaths
• mortality