02007naa a2200217 a 450000100080000000500110000800800410001910000160006024501030007626000090017952013920018865000280158065000160160865300130162465300190163765300160165665300210167265300160169370000170170977300630172618122232008-03-06       2007    bl ---       0--  u    #d1 aMOURÃO, G.  aActivity of a specialized insectivorous mammal (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) in the Pantanal of Brazil  c2007  aThe purpose of this study was to correlate the activity and habitat use of a large and ecologically specialized mammal (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) with the time of day and minimum daily temperature in Brazil's Pantanal wetland. Seven giant anteaters were fitted with very high frequency (VHF) radio transmitters and monitored from March do December 2001. The animal's state of activity or rest, time and ambient temperature were recorded in different patches of the study site, which were covered by a mosaic of vegetation types and several ponds. Whenever a giant anteater was inside a forest patch, the temperature inside and outside of the patch was also recorded. The temperatures throughout the day were recorded by the meteorological station at the study site. The period of greatest activity of giant anteaters started at 18:00 h on hot days, but whenever the daily minimum temperature declined, the species' activity began earlier. Giant anteaters use predominantly forest habitats for rest and open habitats for activity. The forest patches work as a temperature buffer, because they are cooler than the matrix of open habitats during the hot hours of the day and warmer than the matrix during the cold hours. Although the giant anteater is known to be associated with open habitats, this study indicates the need of preserving forest patches for the conservation of this species.  aMyrmecophaga tridactyla  atemperature  aActivity  agiant anteater  ahabitat use  aPantanal wetland  atime of day1 aMEDRI, I. M.  tSeparata de: Journal of Zoologygv. 271, p. 187-192, 2007.