Diego G. Tirira

Diego G. Tirira
Universidad Yachay Tech · Escuela de Ciencias Biológicas e Ingeniería

Doctor of Philosophy
Editor-in-chief of Mammalia aequatorialis, The Ecuadorian Journal of Mammalogy

About

180
Publications
267,894
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3,642
Citations
Additional affiliations
January 1995 - present
Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador
Position
  • Research Associate

Publications

Publications (180)
Conference Paper
Full-text available
Up-to-date and globally available information about the conservation status of biodiversity is of paramount importance, given the accelerating global biodiversity loss. Governments rely on this information for policies on conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. Ecuador, a neotropical biodiversity hotspot, harbors a significant number of e...
Article
Full-text available
Este edición suplemento presenta 131 resúmenes que sobre mamíferos (en cualquier área del conocimiento) se presentaron en el VI Congreso Ecuatoriano de Mastozoología, IV Congreso Nacional de Manejo de Vida Silvestre y II Congreso Ecuatoriano de Centros de Rescate, Zoológicos, Acuarios y Afines, llevados a cabo entre el 2 y 4 de octubre de 2024 en l...
Article
Full-text available
In mammals, skulls are relatively plastic structures that may reflect ecological characteristics of individuals and species. We studied the role of static allometry in explaining the type and extent of sexual dimorphism in the skull of the common vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus, É. Geoffroy, 1810). In total, we analyzed 439 specimens from a large po...
Article
Full-text available
As of this issue, Mammalia aequatorialis, The Ecuadorian Journal of Mammalogy becomes a biannual journal. This was one of our first objectives when we created this publication. Thanks to the growing support of authors who are publishing their contributions, we have achieved it. Mammalia aequatorialis was born as a space to disseminate Ecuadorian ma...
Book
Full-text available
We present a new update of the official list of mammals of Ecuador. We follow a taxonomic order for the supra-generic categories, but alphabetical for the lower levels. We incorporate and point out the taxonomic changes that have occurred since the last version published in December 2023. For the elaboration of this list we kept a constant review o...
Book
Full-text available
We present a new update of the official list of mammals of Ecuador. We follow a taxonomic order for the suprageneric categories, but alphabetical for the lower levels. We incorporate and point out the taxonomic changes that have occurred since the last version published in June 2023. For the elaboration of this list we kept a constant review of the...
Article
Full-text available
A new contribution to the knowledge of Ecuadorian mammals deposited in museums and natural history collections is presented. On this occasion, the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, the largest and most important collection in Belgium. This paper reports the presence of 53 specimens corresponding to 32 genera and species, 17 families and...
Article
Full-text available
Instances of Neogale frenata swimming are rare to observe and have not been recorded in South America. Here, we present a note regarding an observation at an irrigation canal in Urcuquí, Ecuador. In a period of less than two minutes, Neogale frenata aureoventris swam twice in the canal for a distance of about two meters.
Article
Full-text available
Despite the large geographic and elevational range of Neogale frenata (Long-tailed Weasel), records of this species in the lowland forests of coastal Ecuador are few and some of them of dubious provenance. Here, we report the first confirmed record of N. frenata in the Chocó forests, in Esmeraldas province, western Ecuador, an area of forests highl...
Article
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We have reached our fifth edition, marking five years of disseminating information about the mammals of Ecuador. The cover of this edition portrays the long-tailed weasel (Neogale frenata), one of the smallest carnivores of the continent and a little-known species in Ecuador. The cover symbolizes our central theme, as we include three publications...
Article
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In this scientific note, I document an attack by Neogale frenata (long-tailed weasel) on a chicken coop near Cuyuja, in the province of Napo, Ecuador. Early in the morning, in less than five minutes, the carnivore killed all 20 chickens in the coop with quick and effective bites to the neck, retreating into the forest carrying only one chicken. Alt...
Article
Full-text available
Hasta hace pocas décadas, los waoranis eran un pueblo en aislamiento voluntario. En la actualidad, constituye un grupo indígena asentado sobre las mayores reservas de hidrocarburos del país. Esa es la encrucijada que viven los waoranis: entre el aislamiento y el petróleo, entre la defensa de sus saberes ancestrales y el progreso económico. Una cult...
Chapter
The owl monkeys, genus Aotus, are among the most widely distributed of all platyrrhine genera. The 13 currently recognized taxa are found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, and Venezuela. They range from lowland tropical moist and dry forests to over 3000 m.a.sl. in the cloud forests of the Andes. Owl monkeys...
Article
Full-text available
Herein I confirm the presence of Pithecia aequatorialis in the Ecuadorian Amazon. The discovery of seven records, five corresponding to specimens deposited in museums and two from photographs taken in the field in the last decade, confirmed its presence in the province of Pastaza, between the Curaray River (right bank), to the north, and Bobonaza (...
Article
Full-text available
Pudu mephistophiles (Northern Pudu) inhabits the Andean regions of Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. Studies on the reports of its occurrence are scarce and tend not to be up to date, making it difficult to analyze or carry out research on its populations and conservation status. In this study, we collected information on the presence of the northern po...
Article
Full-text available
Leucism is an atypical condition of recessive genetic origin that occurs as a consequence of mutations that affect the generation, distribution, and aggregation of the melanin pigment in the skin of many vertebrates and is particularly noticeable in mammals (Lamoreux et al., 2010). Although this condition has been frequently mentioned in various or...
Article
Full-text available
Evolution is a constant process. Living beings, human societies, people, countries, and knowledge evolve, among many other aspects. Mammalia æquatorialis is no stranger to this process of change. Starting with this issue, we have adopted English as the official language: first in our digital magazine, but over the course of the next year, we will t...
Article
Full-text available
The Ecuadorian Brown-headed Spider Monkey (Ateles fusciceps fusciceps) is one of the most threatened primates globally; recently, it was recorded in areas where it had been considered locally extinct. We used ecological niche models to generate potential suitable areas within its current distribution and assess its potential adaptation to future cl...
Book
Full-text available
We present an updated of the official checklist of mammals of Ecuador. We follow a taxonomic ordering for the suprageneric categories, but alphabetically for the lower levels. We incorporate and indicate the taxonomic changes that have occurred since the last version published in June 2022. For the elaboration of this list we constantly review of t...
Article
Full-text available
Article
Full-text available
Este suplemento especial presenta 120 resúmenes que sobre mamíferos (en cualquier área del conocimiento) se presentaron en el V Congreso Ecuatoriano de Mastozoología, III Congreso Nacional de Manejo de Vida Silvestre y I Congreso Ecuatoriano de Centros de Rescate, Zoológicos, Acuarios y Afines, llevados a cabo entre el 19 y 21 de octubre de 2022 en...
Book
Full-text available
A Rapid Biological Inventory was conducted in the Shuin-Mamus comunity, Morona Santiago Province, within the Territorio Achuar. The study area is part of the Low lands Evergreen Forest ecosystem of the amazonian. Information on 487 species of flora and fauna is documented, estimating at least 1116 species for the region. The diversity of flora, amp...
Book
Full-text available
We present an updated of the official checklist of mammals of Ecuador. We follow a taxonomic ordering for the suprageneric categories, but alphabetically for the lower levels. We incorporate and indicate the taxonomic changes that have occurred since the last version published in December 2021. For the elaboration of this list a we kept a constant...
Article
Full-text available
Aim: Comprehensive, global information on species' occurrences is an essential biodiversity variable and central to a range of applications in ecology, evolution, biogeography and conservation. Expert range maps often represent a species' only available distributional information and play an increasing role in conservation assessments and macroeco...
Article
Full-text available
Los bosques húmedos de las estribaciones occidentales de la provincia de Azuay están entre los menos estudiados del país y no existe información sobre sus especies de primates. A partir de estudios de campo realizados en diciembre 2019 y enero 2020 confirmamos que en esta área habitan dos especies: Alouatta palliata aequatorialis (Atelidae) y Cebus...
Article
Full-text available
We documented the first case of albinism for Dasyprocta fuliginosa, based on an individual that we recorded near San Pablo de Kantensiya, in the province of Sucumbíos, Ecuador. In this report, we also include information on the perspective with regards to this finding of the Siekopai indigenous people, ancestral inhabitants of the sector.
Presentation
Full-text available
Editorial Mammalia aequatorialis Vol. 3
Article
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Entre los mamíferos, los primates son considerados un grupo bien conocido en su riqueza y distribución; además, en la actualidad es uno de los órdenes con mayores problemas de conservación. Con estas premisas y para identificar y llenar algunos vacíos de conocimiento, se llevó a cabo un estudio sobre la riqueza (capítulo III), distribución (capítul...
Article
Full-text available
Documentamos el primer caso de albinismo para Dasyprocta fuliginosa, en base a un individuo que registramos cerca de la San Pablo de Kantensiya, en la provincia de Sucumbíos, Ecuador. En este reporte también incluimos información sobre la perspectiva de este hallazgo por parte del pueblo indígena Siekopai, habitantes ancestrales del sector. We docu...
Article
Full-text available
No se puede conservar lo que no se conoce. Esta fue una de las primeras premisas que aprendí durante mi época universitaria. Sugerencia que de forma obligatoria viene acompañada de otro elemento importante: la publicación de los datos. Si no publicamos, no conocemos, y si no conocemos, no conservamos. Para mantener la continuidad en el conocimiento...
Book
Full-text available
Actualizamos el estado de conservación de los mamíferos del Ecuador. Presentamos la evaluación de 547 taxones de mamíferos; de acuerdo con la Lista oficial de mamíferos del Ecuador versión 2021.2 (actualizada al 14 de diciembre de 2021), 452 son especies nativas, cuatro vagabundas y 17 introducidas; además, en la evaluación se incluyeron 46 subespe...
Chapter
Link: https://bioweb.bio/faunaweb/mamiferoslibrorojo/FichaEspecie/Micronycteris%20simmonsae/%5BToda%20la%20poblaci%C3%B3n%20del%20Ecuador%5D
Chapter
Link: https://bioweb.bio/faunaweb/mamiferoslibrorojo/FichaEspecie/Cuniculus%20taczanowskii/%5BToda%20la%20poblaci%C3%B3n%20del%20Ecuador%5D
Book
Full-text available
We present an updated version of the official checklist of mammals from Ecuador. We follow a taxonomic ordering for the suprageneric categories, but alphabetical for lower levels. We incorporate and indicate taxonomic changes that have occurred since the last versión published in May 2021. For the elaboration of this list a constant review of the s...
Article
Full-text available
A new contribution to the knowledge of Ecuadorian mammals deposited in museums and natural history collections is presented. On this occasion, the Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (National Museum of Natural Sciences) of Madrid, one of the oldest collections in the world and whose foundation maintains a curious link with present-day Ecuador, fo...
Thesis
Full-text available
Within the mammals, primates are considered a well-known group for their richness and distribution; furthermore, it is currently one of the orders facing serious conservation challenges. Based on this, I carried out a study to evaluate richness (Chapter III), distribution (Chapter IV) and conservation issues (Chapters V and VI) of the primates of E...
Article
Full-text available
Understanding the geographic distributions of primates is necessary to ensure effective conservation strategies. Nonetheless, many gaps persist in information regarding the range limits of platyrrhines. Leontocebus lagonotus is no exception; it is one of the least studied primates in Ecuador and its geographic limits are poorly known. We obtained 2...
Book
Full-text available
We present an updated version of the official checklist of mammals of Ecuador, an effort of the Asociación Ecuatoriana de Mastozoología (Ecuadorian Association of Mammalogy), with the support of the Fundación Mamíferos y Conservación and the three main mammals collections in the country: INABIO (Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad-Museo Ecuatoriano...
Article
Full-text available
First record of Chironectes minimus (Didelphidae) for the Inter-Andean Dry Valley of Loja Province, Ecuador
Article
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New record of Sturnira nana (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) for Ecuador
Article
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In the search for knowledge of the history of Ecuadorian mammalogy, I found a publication from 1847 that had remained unknown. This is the description of a Phyllostomid bat referred by the name of Arctibius floresii. Although I have not determined the specific identity of this record, the publication has unique charac- teristics that are worth ment...
Article
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The study of biological diversity in defined geographical areas is important for the implementation of management plans and the identification of knowledge gaps, particularly in high-rich groups, such as bats, and areas with significant vegetation cover, such as the case of the Pastaza Province. In the present work, I report the presence of 99 spec...
Article
Full-text available
First report of leucism in an Lowland Tapir (Perissodactyla, Tapiridae) born under human care
Article
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No puede haber conocimiento sin difusión. Para que el conocimiento científico cumpla con su objetivo, llegue y trascienda, debe ser publicado y difundido. Algo necesario e insalvable. No puede existir lo primero sin lo segundo. Dos elementos que a lo largo de la historia han caminado juntos y nos han ofrecido todo lo que ahora conocemos y comprende...
Technical Report
Full-text available
Mamíferos del Ecuador: lista actualizada de especies Mammals of Ecuador: updated checklist species- Tirira, Brito, Burneo y Comisión de Diversidad de la AEM (versión 2020.2)
Article
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E l conocimiento de la vida silvestre en lo que ahora llamamos Ecuador fue un proceso lento, tanto que a partir de la conquista española y durante los siguientes trescientos años, los documentos que tratan sobre este tema se pueden contar con los dedos de las manos. Y cuando esta búsqueda la limitamos a un tema como los primates , una mano es más q...
Article
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We present the results of a rapid ecological assessment conducted in 2012 in the community of Boa-namo, in the Waorani Ethnic Reserve and Yasuní National Park, Orellana and Pastaza provinces, Ecuadorian Amazon. The study included surveys and observations of mammals by different methodologies over a 16-day sampling period. The results show the prese...
Article
Antarctica has been witnessing continued growth of tourism, both in the overall visitation and in the diversity of itineraries and visitor activities. Expanding tourism presents unique business and educational opportunities, but it is also putting immense pressure on Antarctica's natural, and for the most parts, pristine environment. Understanding...
Technical Report
Full-text available
Mamíferos del Ecuador: lista actualizada de especies / Mammals of Ecuador: updated species check list (2020.1)
Book
Full-text available
La investigación realizada durante dos décadas sistematiza ocho inventarios de flora con un registro de 1 182 especies vegetales útiles, que pertenecen a 477 géneros y 117 familias. Las plantas fueron agrupadas en 15 categorías de uso, destacándose seis por su alto número de especies. En la lista Roja de la UICN constan 94 especies vegetales, siend...
Book
Full-text available
We present the results of the Yasuní Biological Monitoring Program conducted between 1994 and 2013 within petroleum-development bloques 16 and 67 (blocks 16 and 67), which are currently managed by the company Repsol Ecuador S. A., in the province of Orellana, Ecuadorian Amazon. This study included surveys and observations of mammals along the Pompe...
Article
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Changes in the behavior of primates caused by habitat disturbance are important indicators of their survival ability in fragmented landscapes. In Ecuador, few studies have examined the effect of habitat fragmentation on primate behavior. We present data of a prolonged interspecific association between a brown-headed spider monkey (Ateles fusciceps...
Article
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The Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia houses the oldest of the natural history collections of the United States and the continent. Between 1911 and 1984 the collection received 137 specimens from Ecuador, most of them collected in 1911, by Samuel N. Rhoads, and between 1935–1936, by Eric Erskine Loch (part of the Andes-Amazon Expedition)....
Chapter
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In Ecuador, there are 12 recognized species and 16 taxa of neotropical ungulates. The tapirs (Tapiridae) include two species: Tapirus pinchaque and T. terrestris, present in highlands and humid tropical and subtropical forest in the Amazon, respectively; traditionally, a third species of tapir was added to the Ecuadorian fauna, Tapirus bairdii; how...
Technical Report
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MAMÍFEROS DEL ECUADOR: LISTA ACTUALIZADA DE ESPECIES. MAMMALS OF ECUADOR: UPDATED SPECIES CHECK LIST. Versión 2019.1
Technical Report
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Update on the conservation status of Pudu mephistophiles
Chapter
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El capítulo describe el estado actual de conservación de Ateles belzebuth en el Ecuador, además se indica la descripción, historia natural, distribución, hábitat, situación actual, amenazas, medidas de conservación, y los estudios sobre la especie en el Ecuador.
Article
Regional and local environmental conditions shape the habitat preferences of species. In tropical highlands, the regional effects of elevation and local effects of topography combine to shape environmental conditions and create drastically heterogeneous habitats. This is thought to strongly influence the habitat preferences of species in the region...
Chapter
Full-text available
An overview on the presence and distribution of the family Callitrichidae (Primates) in Ecuador. I analyzed 488 records belonging to the four species of Callitrichidae recorded in Ecuador to know the historical overview, and distribution limits in the country. Gaps are discussed and necessary studies are proposed to reduce the shortcomings identifi...
Article
Full-text available
The 2015 assessment of the conservation status of the Neotropical primates reported that 91 species and subspecies (42.5%) are threatened. This highlights the need to establish priority actions to mitigate the threats caused by human activities and promote the conservation of their populations and habitats. Ecuador is fifth-ranking of the Neotropic...
Article
Full-text available
Fur chromatic disorders, which include albinism, leucism and melanism, are rare in mammals. Worldwide these atypical cases are naturally infrequent and poorly reported in the literature, particularly in pinnipeds. The knowledge available about colouration in mammals comes from studies in mice and other domestic mammals. Generally this information i...
Article
Full-text available
Sigmodon inopinatus es una especie endémica de los Andes occidentales del Ecuador y es unos de los roedores más raros y menos conocidos del país. Su presencia ha sido documentada previamente en tres localidades de dos zonas de las provincias de Chimborazo y Azuay. La presente nota científica reporta una cuarta localidad para la especie luego de 30...
Technical Report
Full-text available
El ordenamiento de las especies y la taxomía utilizada son los mismos que aparecen en / The order of the species and the taxonomy used are the same as in: Tirira (2017). Mamíferos del Ecuador: lista actualizada de especies Mammals of Ecuador: updated checklist species Diego G. Tirira (versión 2017.1)
Technical Report
Full-text available
Mamíferos del Ecuador: lista actualizada de especies / Mammals of Ecuador: updapted species check list. Version 2016.2
Article
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Herein we present a geographical review to the genus Glyphonycteris in Ecuador. We confirm the first record for G. sylvestris for the country, which extends its range about 680 km southwest of the nearest previously known record. This first record belongs to an individual captured in Sangay National Park, Morona Santiago province, eastern slopes of...
Technical Report
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Lista actualizada de las especies de mamíferos en el Ecuador. Updated species check list of Mammals of Ecuador
Conference Paper
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La Reserva Biológica Colonso-Chalupas es un área protegida de reciente creación, con 93 246 hectáreas de superficie y un gradiente altitudinal desde 560 a 4432 metros sobre el nivel del mar. Su precipitación anual muestra un promedio de 1700 milímetros en la parte alta, a 4300 milímetros en la parte baja. La reserva presenta seis diferentes ecosist...
Article
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Knowing whether a species has been extirpated, or if it ever inhabited a specific geographic area, has direct importance for planning conservation activities. The taruka ( Hippocamelus antisensis ) is one of the largest Neotropical mammals; it is distributed in the central Andes, and there are published records of this species in Ecuador. Recently,...
Thesis
Full-text available
The population of Weddell Seal was studied between 2010 and 2014 (only summer time) in seven transects around Pedro Vicente Maldonado Ecuadorian Research Station, Antarctica. The main method to study was direct observation using fixed-width transects, for a total of 137 field days and 461.8 kilometers covered. The study objectives were to obtain in...
Article
Full-text available
Sigmodon inopinatus is endemic to the Western Andes of Ecuador and one of the rarest and least known species of rodents in this country. Its presence has been previously documented in two areas and three locations in the provinces of Chimborazo and Azuay. This scientific note reports a fourth locality for the species, after 30 years of the latest f...
Article
Full-text available
Accurate information on the distribution, demography, and conservation status of endangered populations in threatened habitats are essential to provide the basis for conservation actions and management plans. Neglect of western Ecuador by biologists has resulted in a paucity of information of primate populations in the region. Capuchins (Cebus spp....
Technical Report
Full-text available
Diversidad de mamíferos presentes en Ecuador según órdenes, familias, géneros y especies. Diversity of mammals in Ecuador according orders, families, genera and species.
Chapter
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Se presenta una revisión sobre la historia de la mastozoología en el Ecuador. El análisis inicia en épocas prehispánicas, en búsqueda de los orígenes de la relación “ser humano-mastofauna”, para lo cual se investiga en los albores de la civilización en el actual territorio de Ecuador, hace 10 000 años de antigüedad. Este recorrido histórico indaga...
Article
Full-text available
Se presenta una revisión de los patrones de riqueza y de distribución potencial de murciélagos en el Ecuador, basado en el análisis de 21,455 registros publicados o almacenados en colecciones científicas, correspondientes a 162 especies. Luego de la revisión y validación de los datos, se procesaron 10,916 registros que sirvieron para conocer la dis...
Article
Full-text available
Herein we confirm the occurrence of Lophostoma carrikeri in Ecuador. One adult female was collected in Orellana province on 17 September 2012 at Boanamo, Waorani Ethnic Reserve, and another on 5 May 2013 at Yasuni Research Station, Yasuni National Park. These records extend the distributional range of the species about 570 km northwest of the neare...
Article
Full-text available
RESUMEN En la segunda mitad de la década pasada se descubrió de la existencia de una colección no identificada de mamíferos procedente de Ecuador, la cual estaba depositada en el Museo Nacional de Brasil, ejemplares que fueron colectados en las décadas de 1920 y 1930 por el científico austriaco Franz Spillmann. La colección consistió de 83 especíme...
Article
Full-text available
RESUMEN Se realizó un diagnóstico del tráfico ilegal que enfrentan las especies de primates nativas en el Ecuador. Se analizó información sobre incautaciones realizadas en el país, correspondientes a ejemplares vivos y elementos constitutivos, y reportes de ejemplares cautivos cuyo origen o tenencia se consideró ilegal. Se analizó un total de 2 217...
Chapter
Full-text available
The forests of the western Amazonia, from Colombia south through Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia, are home to at least 30 taxa of pitheciines of the genera Pithecia, Cacajao and Callicebus. The primary threat to these monkeys is habitat destruction, although hunting further threatens populations in some areas. One taxon in this region is considered criti...