Mammals of REGUA
With the exception of the widespread Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth, mammals are rarely encountered at REGUA, although there are encouraging signs that the reduction of illegal hunting is allowing some species to spread down into the lower slopes and become more accessible. By far the most exciting mammal to be found at REGUA is the Muriqui or Southern Woolly Spider Monkey which is the largest primate found in the neotropics and the largest endemic mammal found in Brazil.
The earliest systematic attempt at recording mammals at REGUA was conducted by Eduardo Rubiao in 2002 with the help of Biology and Veterinary Science students from the Univeristy Serra dos Órgãos in Teresopolis using various small mammal traps, camera traps and mist nets for bats. Since then visiting teams from Rio de Janeiro State University and the BIOMAS Institute have added to the species list and to our understanding of the key species to be found at the lower altitudes, and other visitors and volunteers have contributed important sightings. One of the most exciting events was the capture on film of a Puma within the reserve boundaries using a camera trap, but since then Puma faeces have been found regularly on forest trails. The most recent addition to the list has been the arrival of a small group of Capybara to the newly created wetland.
The first claimed sightings of Muriquis were in 1997, but between 2001 and 2007 there were at least 14 confirmed reports of between one and 15 individuals. These larger group sightings comprising of males, females and young show that REGUA has a small but healthy population. Muriquis used to be abundant throughout the Atlantic Rainforest of Brazil but are now listed as Endangered and are thought to number less than 1,000 individuals through their entire remaining range, the stronghold of which is in the Serra do Mar region.
In addition to the Muriqui, REGUA has three other primates, the Brown Howler and Brown Capuchin Monkeys, and the Common Marmoset. Unfortunately most sightings of this marmoset refer to Callithrix jacchus (probably derived from released animals) rather than the native C.aurita.
At least two important large mammal species, the Red Brocket Deer and Brazilian Tapir are missing from the reserve, presumably due to over-hunting. It may be possible in the future to consider reintroducing these species when a sufficiently large contiguous area has been protected. Jaguar also appears to be absent.
For an interesting report on mammals seen on a trip to REGUA click here (scroll to the end of the report).
List updated April 2008
| Order: Didelphimorphia (New World Marsupials) | |
| Caluromys philander | Bare-tailed Woolly Opossum |
| Philander frenatus | Common Grey Four-eyed Opossum |
| Chironectes minimus | Water Opossum |
| Metachirus nudicaudatus | Brown Four-eyed Opossum |
| Didelphis aurita | South-eastern Common Opossum |
| Monodelphis americana | Three-striped Short-tailed Opossum |
| Order: Xenarthra | |
| Tamandua tetradactyla | Southern (Collared) Anteater |
| Bradypus variegatus | Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth |
| Dasypus novemcinctus | Nine-banded Armadillo |
| Euphractus sexcinctus | Yellow (Six-banded) Armadillo |
| Order: Chiroptera | |
| Anoura caudifer | Hairy-legged Long-tongued Bat |
| Glossophaga soricina | Common Long-tongued Bat |
| Rhynchonycteris naso | Long-nosed Bat |
| Carollia perspicillata | Seba's Short-tailed Fruit Bat |
| Sturnira lilium | Little Yellow-shouldered Fruit Bat |
| Artibeus lituratus | Great Fruit-eating Bat |
| Artibeus obscurus | Dark Fruit-eating Bat |
| Artibeus fimbriatus | Fringed Fruit-eating Bat |
| Platyrrhinus lineatus | White-lined Broad-nosed Bat |
| Desmodus rotundus | Common Vampire Bat |
| Diphylla ecaudata | Hairy-legged Vampire Bat |
| Thyroptera tricolor | Sucker-footed Bat |
| Myotis nigricans | Little Brown Bat |
| Micronycteris megalotis | Little Big-eared Bat |
| Noctilio leporinus | Fishing Bat |
| Lonchorhina aurita | Tomes's Sword-nosed Bat |
| Phyllostomus hastatus | Greater Spear-nosed Bat |
| Chrotopterus auritus | Woolly False Vampire Bat |
| Lasiurus ega | Hairy-tailed Bat |
| Molossus molossus | Velvety Free-tailed Bat (Mastiff) Bat |
| Molossus ater (rufus) | Black Mastiff Bat |
| Myotis ruber | Red Myotis |
| Order: Primates | |
| Callithrix jacchus | Common (Tufted-ear) Marmoset |
| Alouatta fusca | Brown Howler Monkey |
| Cebus apella | Brown Capuchin Monkey |
| Brachyteles arachnoides | Southern Woolly Spider Monkey (Muriqui) |
| Order: Carnivora | |
| Cerdocyon thous | Crab-eating Fox |
| Nasua nasua | South American Coati |
| Eira barbara | Tayra |
| Procyon cancrivorus | Crab-eating Raccoon |
| Potos flavus | Kinkajou |
| Galictis vittata | Greater Grison |
| Lontra longicaudis | Southern River Otter |
| Felis (Leopardus) pardalis | Ocelot |
| Felis (Leopardus) wiedii | Margay |
| Felis (Leopardus) tigrinus | Oncilla |
| Puma concolor | Puma |
| Felis (Herpailurus) yagouaroundi | Jaguarundi |
| Order: Artiodactyla | |
| Tayassu tajacu | Collared Peccary |
| Order: Rodentia | |
| Sciurus aestuans | Brazilian (Guianan) Squirrel |
| Mus musculus | House Mouse |
| Rattus rattus | Black (Roof) Rat |
| Nectomys squamipes | Scaly-footed Water Rat |
| Oryzomys capito | Common Rice Rat |
| Sphiggurus (Coendou) spinosus | Orange-spined Hairy Dwarf Porcupine |
| Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris | Capybara |
| Agouti paca | Paca |
| Dasyprocta leporina | Red-rumped Agouti |
| Cavia aperea | Brazilian Guinea Pig |
| Oligoryzomys nigriceps | Black-footed Pygmy Rice Rat |
| Order: Lagamorpha | |
| Sylvilagus brasiliensis | Brazilian Rabbit |