Diet of Procyon cancrivorus (Carnivora, Procyonidae) in restinga and estuarine environments of southern Brazil

Despite its wide range and abundance on certain habitats, the crab-eating raccoon Procyon cancrivorus (G. Cuvier, 1798) is considered one of the less known Neotropical carnivore species. In the present study we analyzed the diet of P. cancrivorus in a peat forest and in an estuarine island in southernmost Brazil. Fruits of the geriva palm tree Syagrus romanzoffiana were the most consumed item in the peat forest, followed by insects and mollusks. Small mammals, followed by Bromelia antiacantha (Bromeliaceae) fruits and brachyuran crustaceans were the most frequent items in the estuarine island. Other items found in lower frequencies were Solanum sp., Psidium sp., Smilax sp. and Dyospiros sp. fruits, diplopods, scorpions, fishes, anuran amphibians, reptiles (black tegu lizard and snakes), birds and medium-sized mammals (white-eared opossum, armadillo and coypu). Levin's index values (peat forest: 0.38; estuarine island: 0.45) indicate an approximation to a median position between a specialist and a well distributed diet. Pianka's index (0.80) showed a considerable diet similarity between the two systems. Procyon cancrivorus presented a varied diet in the studied areas and may play an important role as seed disperser on coastal environments in southernmost Brazil.Original Abstract: Apesar de sua ampla distribuicao e abundancia em determinados habitats, o mao-pelada Procyon cancrivorus (G. Cuvier, 1798) e considerado uma das menos conhecidas especies de carnivoro Neotropical. No presente estudo analisamos a dieta de P. cancrivorus em uma mata paludosa e uma ilha estuarina no extremo sul do Brasil. Frutos da palmeira geriva Syagrus romanzoffiana foi o item mais consumido na mata paludosa, seguido por insetos e moluscos. Pequenos mamiferos, seguidos por frutos de Bromelia antiacantha (Bromeliaceae) e crustaceos braquiuros foram os itens mais frequentes na ilha estuarina. Outros itens encontrados em menor frequencia foram frutos de Solanum sp., Psidium sp., Smilax sp. and Dyospiros sp., diplopodos, escorpioes, peixes, anfibios anuros, repteis (teiu e serpentes), aves e mamiferos de medio porte (gamba-da-orelha-branca, tatu e ratao-do-banhado). Os valores do indice de Levin (mata paludosa: 0.38; ilha estuarina: 0.45) indicam uma aproximacao a uma posicao mediana entre uma dieta especialista e bem distribuida. O indice de Pianka (0.80) mostrou uma consideravel similaridade na dieta entre os dois sistemas. Procyon cancrivorus apresentou uma dieta variada nas areas e