Download Species Account For Catagonus Wagneri

Jacob Holsclaw
Section 3
Species Account for Catagonus Wagneri
General Description:
There are three species of peccary in the world and Catagonus wagneri is the
largest of them all. Male animals weigh approximately 30 to 40 kg and females slightly
less at 30 to 38 kg except when they are pregnant (Handen 1994). They stand on average
65 cm high at the shoulders and have a body length of 96 to 117 cm. C. wagneri have a
mixed coloration of grays, browns, blacks, and white for their bristly fur with an
especially dark dorsal line running down the back. An interesting feature of this peccary
is that it lacks the dewclaw on its hind foot which other peccaries possess. Along with
this the feet are smaller and legs longer than other species which is probably an
adaptation to the dry and difficult environment that it lives in. C. wagneri also has a long
skull with the tooth morphology of hypsodont and formula of 2/3, 1/1, 3/3, 3/3 for a total
of 38. These peccaries also have a gland on their back above the tail which produces a
milky white substance used in marking sent on objects and other peccaries. Overall, C.
wagneri is very hard to identify the different sexes in the field so there is really no sexual
dimorphism (Raffo 2000).
Distribution:
C. wagneri is native to the dry Gran Chaco region in South America. This is a
region which covers 3 different countries including Paraguay, Argentina, and Bolivia
which covers around 140,000 square km. As far as distribution in Paraguay is concerned,
C. wagneri is found in the western half of the country. The Gran Chaco region has few
trees and lots of plants such as cactus and brushy grass that dwell in dry areas (Raffo
2000). This is a region with an extreme climate. Sometimes temperatures range from
19F to 117F (Toone 2002).
Reproduction:
C. wagneri breeds during late spring and early summer and then on average about
2 to 3 young are born from September to January with a gestation period of 151 days.
Often females will go somewhere other than the herd to give birth and then come back
later with young that are ready to be active and move in under one week. In the wild it is
thought that females breed when they are around 3 years old but it has been found that C.
wagneri in captivity have conceived in under one year old. The young peccaries are very
similar in their coloration to the adults (Sandiegozoo 2001).
Ecology and Behavior:
C. wagneri has some interesting ways of communicating with other peccaries.
One of the unique features mentioned earlier is the fact that they mark areas with their
scent glands on their backs by rubbing on things such as trees in locations such as scat
stations and areas frequented by multiple herds. This species is very territorial because
different herds seem to generally stay away from each other and not much overlapping of
home ranges occurs. Other than rubbing on objects, C. wagneri will also rub their heads
on another individual’s scent gland. Sometimes, when these peccaries are fleeing from
danger, the scent will be squirted out as they run. Most often herds are comprised of 1 to
10 individuals which are often extended family groups and are diurnally active (Nowak
1997). For the most part, C. wagneri is not a very aggressive species and fighting among
these animals is infrequent. A unique way in which C. wagneri has adapted to its
environment is the process in which it eats some of its food. Because these animals live
in a dry and semi arid environment one of its sources for food comes from different
species of cacti. In order to get past the spines, C. wagneri rolls the cactus around on the
ground with its nose, breaking off the spines. They can then eat it without the problem of
dealing with this annoying feature of cactus. C. wagneri also has a tough, two chambered
stomach which is needed to digest the tough food that it so often has to eat (Raffo 2000).
Some interesting remarks:
This peccary species was thought to be extinct until it was discovered in 1972.
There are an estimated 5000 animals still living in the Gran Chaco region which have to
deal with hunting from humans and some problems with disease. Catagonus wagneri is
listed as endangered and work is being done to conserve this unique species. C. wagneri
is often easily hunted because one individual can be killed and then others in the group
will stay around the body. They can than be easily shot as well. This could contribute to
C. wagneri having decreasing numbers (Handen 1994).
Literature Cited:
Raffo, E. 2000.”Catagonus wagneri” (On line), Animal Diversity Web.
<http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/
Catagonus_wagneri.html. Account #259.
Handen, E. Cynthia. 1994. Current Status of the Tagua’ (Catagonus wagneri) in
Paraguay. Der Zoologishe Garten. 6, S. 329-337.
Toone, William and Wallace, Michael. The Giant Chacoan Peccary – An outstanding
example of adaptation to a subtropical dryland ecosystem. Tropical Conservancy 2002.
Nowak, M. Ronald. 1997. Chacoan Peccary. Walkers mammals of the World Online.
www.press.jhu.edu. John Hopkins University Press.
<library.sandiegozoo.org>. Chacoan Peccary, Catagonus wagneri. 2001
Reference written by Jacob Holsclaw, Biology 378 student. Edited by Christopher Yahnke.
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