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An Update of the Geographic Distribution of the Red-Mantled Saddle-Back Tamarin, Leontocebus lagonotus (Callitrichidae), in Ecuador

Authors:
Diego G. Tirira at Universidad Yachay Tech
Diego G. Tirira
Lidia Sánchez-Sánchez at University of Extremadura
Lidia Sánchez-Sánchez
Sara Álvarez Solas at Universidad Regional Amazónica IKIAM
Sara Álvarez Solas
  • Universidad Regional Amazónica IKIAM
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Abstract and Figures

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 296 records of its presence in Ecuador from field studies (between 1996 and 2020), museums, the literature, and databases. Of these, we validated 211 records and used 106 (excluding grouped points) to determine the potential distribution of this species using an ecological niche model (MaxEnt). The model suggested that the species’ distribution in Ecuador covers 64,028 km². Based on confirmed data, the extent of occurrence was 38,226 km², but after updating it with layers of remaining vegetation (2018), we determined that the current distribution is 32,643 km² (a 15% reduction). Our findings reduce the range proposed for the species in Ecuador, suggesting that areas north of the Napo River, the north-central area of Yasuní National Park, and the far eastern part of Waorani Ethnic Reserve were never part of the species’ range. We also identified the southern boundaries of its distribution, where the Paute-Upano and Cangaime-Morona rivers form a natural barrier. Its distribution in Peru possibly reaches the south of the Morona and Santiago rivers. We recommend a similar approach for other platyrrhines, particularly those under threat, for better implementation of conservation efforts.
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An Update of the Geographic Distribution
of the Red-Mantled Saddle-Back Tamarin,
Leontocebus lagonotus (Callitrichidae), in Ecuador
Diego G. Tirira
1,2,5
&Lidia Sánchez-Sánchez
3
&Sara Álvarez-Solas
4,5,6
Received: 14 December 2020 / Accepted: 15 April 2021/
#The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2021
Abstract
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
296 records of its presence in Ecuador from field studies (between 1996 and 2020),
museums, the literature, and databases. Of these, we validated 211 records and used
106 (excluding grouped points) to determine the potential distribution of this species
using an ecological niche model (MaxEnt). The model suggested that the species’
distribution in Ecuador covers 64,028 km2. Based on confirmed data, the extent of
occurrence was 38,226 km2, but after updating it with layers of remaining vegetation
(2018), we determined that the current distribution is 32,643 km2(a 15% reduction).
Our findings reduce the range proposed for the species in Ecuador, suggesting that
areas north of the Napo River, the north-central area of Yasuní National Park, and the
far eastern part of Waorani Ethnic Reserve were never part of the species’range. We
also identified the southern boundaries of its distribution, where the Paute-Upano and
Cangaime-Morona riversform a natural barrier. Its distribution in Peru possibly reaches
the south of the Morona and Santiago rivers. We recommend a similar approach for
other platyrrhines, particularly those under threat, for better implementation of conser-
vation efforts.
Keywords Altitudinal range .Amazonia .Ecological niche model .Knowledge gaps .
Natural barriers .Rainforest
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10764-021-00221-7
Handling Editor: Joanna Setchell.
*Diego G. Tirira
diegotirira@gmail.com
Extended author information available on the last page of the article
Published online: 20 May 2021
International Journal of Primatology (2021) 42:600–617
Content courtesy of Springer Nature, terms of use apply. Rights reserved.
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... The diagnostic characteristics used to distinguish the subspecies from their conspecific neighbors are summarized in Supporting Information: Table S2. When such direct confirmation was not possible, we followed Tirira et al. (2021) and used at least one of the following criteria: (i) data published in scientific literature; (ii) records carried out by experienced professionals; and (iii) records located unambiguously within the known subspecies' range. We excluded all records that did not meet at least one of these criteria. ...
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