Giant Forest Peccary
Encyclopedia
The Giant Peccary is a possible fourth species of peccary
, discovered in Brazil
in 2000 by the Dutch naturalist Marc van Roosmalen
. In 2003, he and German
natural history
filmmaker Lothar Frenz succeeded in filming a group and gathering material, which later would serve as the type
. Though recently discovered by science it has been known to locals as Caitetu Munde, which means "great peccary which lives in pairs". It was formally described in 2007, but the scientific evidence for its species status has later been questioned, which also is one of the reasons for it being evaluated as data deficient
by IUCN.
Its assumed range encompass the south-central Amazon
between the Madeira
and the Tapajós Rivers. It is restricted to Terra Firme forest. Unlike other peccaries in its range, the Giant Peccary appears to mainly occur in pairs or small family groups.
According to its original description, the Giant Peccary is larger, longer-legged, and proportionally smaller-headed than the only other member of the genus, the Collared Peccary
(P. tajacu). Compared to the sympatric populations of the Collared Peccary, the Giant Peccary also has thinner fur that is grizzled in brown and white, blacker legs and a relatively faint collar. Five skins of the Giant Peccary had a total length of 120–137 cm (47–54 in), while local hunters have estimated a weight of 40–50 kg (88–110 lb). Based on mtDNA, it has been estimated that the Collared and the Giant Peccary diverged 1-1,2 million years ago, but these results have been considered questionable due to the low bootstrap
support, small sample size
, and the absence of nDNA and cytogenetic results. Furthermore, it is known that there are extensive intraspecific
variations (both individual and locality-based) in the morphology
of the Collared Peccary.
Peccary
A peccary is a medium-sized mammal of the family Tayassuidae, or New World Pigs. Peccaries are members of the artiodactyl suborder Suina, as are the pig family and possibly the hippopotamus family...
, discovered in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
in 2000 by the Dutch naturalist Marc van Roosmalen
Marc van Roosmalen
Dr. Marc van Roosmalen is a Brazilian primatologist of Dutch birth living in Manaus in Brazil. He was elected as one of the "Heroes of the Planet" by Time Magazine in 2000...
. In 2003, he and German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
natural history
Natural history
Natural history is the scientific research of plants or animals, leaning more towards observational rather than experimental methods of study, and encompasses more research published in magazines than in academic journals. Grouped among the natural sciences, natural history is the systematic study...
filmmaker Lothar Frenz succeeded in filming a group and gathering material, which later would serve as the type
Biological type
In biology, a type is one particular specimen of an organism to which the scientific name of that organism is formally attached...
. Though recently discovered by science it has been known to locals as Caitetu Munde, which means "great peccary which lives in pairs". It was formally described in 2007, but the scientific evidence for its species status has later been questioned, which also is one of the reasons for it being evaluated as data deficient
Data Deficient
Data Deficient is a category applied by the IUCN, other agencies, and individuals to a species when the available information is not sufficient for a proper assessment of conservation status to be made...
by IUCN.
Its assumed range encompass the south-central Amazon
Amazon Rainforest
The Amazon Rainforest , also known in English as Amazonia or the Amazon Jungle, is a moist broadleaf forest that covers most of the Amazon Basin of South America...
between the Madeira
Madeira River
The Madeira River is a major waterway in South America, approximately 3,250 km miles long The Madeira is the biggest tributary of the Amazon...
and the Tapajós Rivers. It is restricted to Terra Firme forest. Unlike other peccaries in its range, the Giant Peccary appears to mainly occur in pairs or small family groups.
According to its original description, the Giant Peccary is larger, longer-legged, and proportionally smaller-headed than the only other member of the genus, the Collared Peccary
Collared Peccary
The collared peccary is a species of mammal in the family Tayassuidae that is found in North, Central, and South America. They are commonly referred to as javelina, saíno or báquiro, although these terms are also used to describe other species in the family...
(P. tajacu). Compared to the sympatric populations of the Collared Peccary, the Giant Peccary also has thinner fur that is grizzled in brown and white, blacker legs and a relatively faint collar. Five skins of the Giant Peccary had a total length of 120–137 cm (47–54 in), while local hunters have estimated a weight of 40–50 kg (88–110 lb). Based on mtDNA, it has been estimated that the Collared and the Giant Peccary diverged 1-1,2 million years ago, but these results have been considered questionable due to the low bootstrap
Bootstrapping (statistics)
In statistics, bootstrapping is a computer-based method for assigning measures of accuracy to sample estimates . This technique allows estimation of the sample distribution of almost any statistic using only very simple methods...
support, small sample size
Sample size
Sample size determination is the act of choosing the number of observations to include in a statistical sample. The sample size is an important feature of any empirical study in which the goal is to make inferences about a population from a sample...
, and the absence of nDNA and cytogenetic results. Furthermore, it is known that there are extensive intraspecific
Intraspecific
Intraspecific is a term used in biology to describe behaviors, biochemical variations and other issues within individuals of a single species, thereby contrasting with interspecific. For example:* Intraspecific antagonism...
variations (both individual and locality-based) in the morphology
Morphology (biology)
In biology, morphology is a branch of bioscience dealing with the study of the form and structure of organisms and their specific structural features....
of the Collared Peccary.
External links
- Forscher entdecken neuen Großsäuger, GEO magazine (in German)
- Info on the recently discovered Giant Peccary