Habitat Use and Activity Patterns as an Indication of Fragment Quality in a Strepsirrhine Primate

Considerable intraspecific variation exists in responses to habitat fragmentation owing to regional differences in fragment quality. Habitat use and activity patterns of resident populations are related to the abundance and predictability of resources in time and space, and thus space use is one of the most important considerations for evaluating habitat quality. Here I examine inter- and intrasite differences in the ranging behavior; use of the matrix, i.e., surrounding nonhabitat; and activity budgets of ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta) inhabiting two forest fragments—Anja Special Reserve and Tsaranoro Valley Sacred Forest—in Madagascar’s central highlands to test the prediction that intraspecific variation in habitat use and activity patterns is indicative of fragment quality. At Anja, Lemur catta has access to abundant year-round anthropogenic resources (introduced fruit trees, agricultural crops, water), whereas the population at Tsaranoro relies on seasonally variable and patchily distributed resources throughout the forest and matrix. Lemur catta at Anja occupy smaller home ranges; have shorter daily path lengths (DPLs); and spend less time foraging and more time resting, locomoting, and engaging in social and territorial behavior. In contrast, groups at Tsaranoro occupy larger home ranges, have longer DPLs, rely heavily on the matrix, and expend most of their energy in foraging behavior. These differences point to variation in the relative habitat quality of the two fragments and are thus an important consideration for conservation managers when assessing the capacity of forest fragments to sustain populations.     

Population status and habitat preference of Soemmerring’s gazelle in Alledeghi Wildlife Reserve,Eastern Ethiopia

This study was undertaken to determine the current population size, structure and habitat preference of Soemmerring's gazelle [Nanger soemmerringii (Cretzschmar 1828)] in the Alledeghi Wildlife Reserve, NE Ethiopia. Animals were counted, both during dry and wet seasons, along 12 line transects each in three habitat types (grassland, tree‐scattered grassland and bushland) in 2015/16. Habitat type had nonsignificant effect on mean population density of Soemmerring's gazelle, but wet season mean density was significantly higher than dry season mean density. Estimated weighted mean (±95% CI) population density of the species in the reserve was 1.90 (±0.17) and 5.99 (±0.370) individuals/km² during the dry and wet seasons, respectively. Total population size of the species in the Alledeghi Wildlife Reserve was estimated at 826 ± 77 and 2,562 ± 158 individuals during the dry and wet seasons, respectively. Over half of the total population of Soemmerring's gazelle was represented by adult females during both seasons. Seasonal habitat preference of Soemmerring's gazelle was statistically significant, with greater preference for grassland habitat during wet season and for bushland habitat during dry season. In conclusion, this study has provided valuable data that will be used as a baseline for future population monitoring.     

Food Intake and Dietary Overlap in Native Lemur catta and Propithecus verreauxi and Introduced Eulemur fulvus at Berenty,Southern Madagascar

The introduction of Eulemur fulvus in 1975 into the Berenty Reserve and their recent attainment of population densities comparable to those of Lemur catta led us to analyze food partitioning among the 3 large prosimian species in the gallery forest. We assessed the diets of ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta), brown lemurs (Eulemur fulvus) and sifakas (Propithecus verreauxi) from food intake measurements during 3 successive short-term studies. All species exhibited marked seasonal changes in their major food categories. Dietary overlap was very high between ring-tailed lemurs and brown lemurs during 2 of 3 seasons, including the middle of the dry season. During the latter period, Eulemur appeared to compensate for a low quality diet by increasing the amount of food eaten. In contrast, Lemur fed on lower amounts of food and seemed more efficient at coping with fibrous plant materials. There is low dietary overlap of Lemur catta and Eulemur fulvus versus Propithecus, which exhibit by far the highest dietary diversity of the 3 species. We discuss sustainable coexistence among them, based on respective dietary adaptations and potential for dietary flexibility.     

Diet of the Brown Mouse Lemur (Microcebus rufus) in Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar

The conventional notion is that small-bodied primates should be highly insectivorous in order to obtain protein and other nutrients from a food source that is more easily digestible than plant matter. I studied feeding behavior of Microcebus rufus for 16 months in the east coast rainforest of Ranomafana National Park. I determined the diet primarily through analysis of 334 fecal samples from live-trapped individuals. They consumed a mixed diet basically of fruit and insects year-round. I identified 24 fruits, while 40–52 remain unidentified. Bakerella, a high-lipid epiphytic semiparasitic plant, was in 58% of fecal samples that contained fruit seeds, and was consumed year-round irrespective of general resource availability. It served both as a staple and keystone resource. Fruit was less frequently totally absent from fecal samples of individual mouse lemurs than insect matter was. For Microcebus rufus, fruit may be a primary source of energy, not just complementary to insects. Fruit consumption increased in quantity and diversity during the latter part of the rainy season and the very early part of the dry season, when fruit production was relatively high. This pattern in fruit feeding is similar to that for mouse lemurs in the west coast dry forests and is related to specific nutritional needs dictated by the highly seasonal character of the life cycle. Coleoptera were present in 67% of samples examined and were consumed year-round by the subjects, but insect consumption did not increase during the rainy season when insect abundance was highest.     

Adult Male Scent-Marking in Lemur catta and Eulemur fulvus rufus

Scent-marking and olfactory communication are used extensively by prosimians and can provide spatial and temporal records of group movement and behavior. We compare rates of male scent-marking in relation to reproductive seasons, male dominance rank, and habitat use in two related prosimians: Lemur catta and Eulemur fulvus rufus. We collected scent-marking data on adult male Lemur catta at Beza-Mahafaly Reserve (dry forest), and on Eulemur fulvus rufus at Ranomafana National Park (rainforest), Madagascar. In Lemur, rates of overall scent-marking differed significantly by reproductive season, with higher rates occurring in mating and lactation/migration periods, whereas in Eulemur, reproductive season did not appear to affect scent-marking rates. Dominance rank of male Lemur catta did not affect rates of scent-marking. Among male Eulemur fulvus, dominance relations were not apparent; however, 2 of the 5 focal males scent-marked somewhat more frequently during the mating season and also experienced greater mating success. In Lemur catta, higher rates of scent-marking in the mating season may relate to indirect reproductive competition during a period of high aggression, while such mating competition was not as marked in Eulemur fulvus. Furthermore, higher rates of marking in resident male Lemur catta during male migration may correlate with vigilance toward immigrating males. Greater overall scent-marking rates in ring-tailed lemurs may relate to extensive intergroup home range overlap and no area of exclusive use, whereas the red-fronted lemur groups tended to forage in areas of their home range where little-to-no intergroup overlap occurred.     

Diets of the African Civet Civettictis civetta (Schreber, 1778) in selected coffee forest habitat,south‐western Ethiopia

Feeding ecology of the African civet, Civettictis civetta (Schreber, 1778), was studied in selected coffee forest habitat for two seasons between December 2012 and October 2013. The study was conducted in Limu Seka district, south‐west Ethiopia. Faecal analysis was employed to assess the diet spectrum, seasonal abundance and relative importance of food items. Over 55 different food items were identified from the analysis of 387 scat samples collected during the dry and wet seasons. In the coffee forest habitat, African civets showed omnivorous feeding habit with plant‐to‐animal diet biomass ratio of 1 : 1.36. A slight diet specialization was observed during the wet season (BA = 0.46) favouring animal prey. However, during the dry season, they showed generalist feeding habit (BA = 0.87) with more plant biomass in their diet. With over 64% occurrence and 14.4% biomass, coffee berries significantly contributed to the civets dry season plant diets. The excreted coffee beans, after civets ingested ripe coffee berries, are the tastiest product used by farmers for consumption and market. Seasonal collection of civet coffee from coffee forest floor economically supports the farmers while increasing the importance of civets in the habitat and hence contributing for its conservation.     

Seasonal and geographical influences on the feeding ecology of giraffes in the Luangwa Valley,Zambia: 1973–2014

Obtaining longitudinal data about the feeding ecology of long‐lived iteroparous mammals is rare, but enhances our understanding of how the environment influences niche breadth and dietary diversity within a species. We analysed forty years of feeding records obtained from a population of Thornicroft's giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis thornicrofti) living in the Luangwa Valley, Zambia. Giraffes are browsers that have been reported to feed primarily upon Acacia leaves, but their feeding ecology in some locations conflict with this interpretation. Giraffes in the Luangwa Valley fed on 93 identified plant species, but only a few contributed to the bulk of the diet. Niche breadth was quite large (Shannon‐Weiner Diversity Index H′ = 3.699) and about 13% more diverse during the dry, than wet, season. Key species eaten during the dry season were very consistent across decades, with Kigelia africana and Capparis tomentosa prominent at this time. The evolutionary ecology of giraffes has probably benefitted from a foraging strategy that includes a variable and high‐quality diet during the hot, dry season, when feeding pressures are greatest. Giraffe feeding ecology has evolved in conjunction with their physiology, anatomy and morphology, resulting in an animal that is well adapted for survival in an arid environment.     

Genetic population structure of endangered ring‐tailed lemurs (Lemur catta) from nine sites in southern Madagascar

Madagascar's ring‐tailed lemurs (Lemur catta) are experiencing rapid population declines due to ongoing habitat loss and fragmentation, as well as increasing exploitation for bushmeat and the illegal pet trade. Despite being the focus of extensive and ongoing behavioral studies, there is comparatively little known about the genetic population structuring of the species. Here, we present the most comprehensive population genetic analysis of ring‐tailed lemurs to date from across their likely remaining geographic range. We assessed levels of genetic diversity and population genetic structure using multilocus genotypes for 106 adult individuals from nine geographically representative localities. Population structure and F_ST analyses revealed moderate genetic differentiation with localities being geographically partitioned into northern, southern, western and also potentially central clusters. Overall genetic diversity, in terms of allelic richness and observed heterozygosity, was high in the species (AR = 4.74, H_O = 0.811). In fact, it is the highest among all published lemur estimates to date. While these results are encouraging, ring‐tailed lemurs are currently affected by ongoing habitat fragmentation and occur at lower densities in poorer quality habitats. The effects of continued isolation and fragmentation, coupled with climate‐driven environmental instability, will therefore likely impede the long‐term viability of the species.     

Tamarind tree seed dispersal by ring-tailed lemurs

In Madagascar, the gallery forests of the south are among the most endangered. Tamarind trees (Tamarindus indica) dominate these riverine forests and are a keystone food resource for ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta). At Berenty Reserve, the presence of tamarind trees is declining, and there is little recruitment of young trees. Because mature tamarinds inhibit growth under their crowns, seeds must be dispersed away from adult trees if tree recruitment is to occur. Ring-tailed lemurs are likely seed dispersers; however, because they spend much of their feeding, siesta, and sleeping time in tamarinds, they may defecate a majority of the tamarind seeds under tamarind trees. To determine whether they disperse tamarind seeds away from overhanging tamarind tree crowns, we observed two troops for 10 days each, noted the locations of feeding and defecation, and collected seeds from feces and fruit for germination. We also collected additional data on tamarind seedling recruitment under natural conditions, in which seedling germination was abundant after extensive rain, including under the canopy. However, seedling survival to 1 year was lower when growing under mature tamarind tree crowns than when growing away from an overhanging crown. Despite low fruit abundance averaging two fruits/m³ in tamarind crowns, lemurs fed on tamarind fruit for 32% of their feeding samples. Daily path lengths averaged 1,266 m, and lemurs deposited seeds throughout their ranges. Fifty-eight percent of the 417 recorded lemur defecations were on the ground away from overhanging tamarind tree crowns. Tamarind seeds collected from both fruit and feces germinated. Because lemurs deposited viable seeds on the ground away from overhanging mature tamarind tree crowns, we conclude that ring-tailed lemurs provide tamarind tree seed dispersal services.     

Making up for lost time: Biophysical constraints on the temporal abundance of two fiddler crabs in wet–dry tropical mangroves

Biophysical models are used to predict the spatial distributions of organisms. Nevertheless, understanding factors influencing the temporal distributions of animals may often be additionally required. It is expected that intertidal macrofauna of the wet–dry tropics face a multitude of temporal challenges because there is not only seasonal drying but also variation in surface moisture over the circatidal cycle. Activities of fiddler crabs (Uca spp.) depend on adequate surface moisture being available for feeding and respiration. A recent study monitored crab abundance during spring tides and found that one Uca species in the mangroves of Darwin Harbour, Australia, U. flammula, is most abundant in the wet season, while another, U. elegans, is most abundant in the dry season. We hypothesized here that these seemingly contradictory abundance patterns are driven by temporal variation in the availability of soil moisture within each species habitat. We thus monitored crab abundance and measured soil moisture content across four types of habitat (low gap centres, low gap edges, mid‐height gap centres and high gap centres) seasonally and across the circatidal cycle. We found that crab abundance and soil moisture both varied over time among habitat types. We used a log‐linear model to show that habitat type influenced soil moisture and this in turn influenced crab abundance. Sampling across the circatidal cycle showed that U. flammula was more abundant in the wet season, as reported previously, while the abundance of U. elegans did not vary between seasons. Our model suggested that U. elegans ‘makes up for lost time’ in the dry season by undertaking all activities during spring tide low water as only at this time is the substratum moist enough for feeding and respiration. We highlight the importance of measuring multiple variables across habitats over small and large scales when assessing temporal abundance patterns of intertidal tropical organisms.     

Threshold‐based spraying decision programmes for the red spider mite Tetranychus marianae on eggplant

The red spider mite, Tetranychus marianae McGregor (Acari: Tetranychidae), has been an important pest of eggplant Solanum melongena L. (Solanaceae) and other vegetables in the Mariana Islands. The damage due to T. marianae has been severe and caused huge economic losses. Because no threshold levels are available for T. marianae, many growers are applying up to 12 chemical applications per eggplant cropping period. This is not only expensive, but also results in lower yields because of extensive foliar damage and development of resistance in mites to chemicals. To diminish the calendar‐based chemical applications and to preclude damage to foliage and fruit quality, this study was undertaken for the development of a threshold level for optimum timing of chemical applications for T. marianae. In the direction of this aim, an attempt was made to generate different threshold levels by applying chemical spray (Sun‐spray 6E, 5 ml/l) within 12 h after reaching the threshold levels at 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 mites/leaf, as well as current recommended calendar‐based sprays and non‐sprayed control in a replicated block design for the dry and wet seasons of 2010 at two locations (Yigo and Inaranjan) in Guam (USA). Based on T. marianae‐infested leaves, incidence of T. marianae and yield levels, the plots sprayed at 2 or 4 mites/leaf in the dry season and 2–8 mites/leaf during the wet season had significantly lower leaf damage and incidence of T. marianae compared with a greater number of mites/leaf in calendar‐based sprays and control plots. At the greater threshold levels, the mean yield was significantly reduced in comparison with the mean yield obtained when plots were sprayed at a threshold of 2–8 mites/leaf. Therefore, it is concluded that the optimum threshold chemical spray for T. marianae on eggplant is 4 mites/leaf during the dry season and 8 mites/leaf in the wet season.     

Seasonal habitat use by Elephants (Loxodonta africana) in the Mole National Park of Ghana

To avoid unnecessary waste of limited resources and to help prioritize areas for conservation efforts, this study aimed to provide information on habitat use by elephants between the wet and dry seasons in the Mole National Park (MNP) of Ghana. We compiled coordinates of 516 locations of elephants’ encounters, 256 for dry season and 260 for wet season. Using nine predictor variables, we modeled the probability of elephant's distribution in MNP. We threshold the models to “suitable” and “nonsuitable” regions of habitat use using the equal training sensitivity and specificity values of 0.177 and 0.181 for the dry and wet seasons, respectively. Accuracy assessment of our models revealed a sensitivity score of 0.909 and 0.974, and a specificity of 0.579 and 0.753 for the dry and wet seasons, respectively. A TSS of 0.488 was also recorded for the dry season and 0.727 for the wet season indicating a good model agreement. Our model predicts habitat use to be confined to the southern portion of MNP due to elevation difference and a relatively steep slope that separates the northern regions of the park from the south. Regions of habitat use for the wet season were 856 km² and reduced significantly to 547.68 km² in the dry season. We observed significant overlap (327.24 km²) in habitat use regions between the wet and dry seasons (Schoener's D = 0.922 and Hellinger's‐based I = 0.991). DEM, proximity to waterholes, and saltlicks were identified as the key variables that contributed to the prediction. We recommend construction of temporal camps in regions of habitat use that are far from the headquarters area for effective management of elephants. Also, an increase in water point's density around the headquarters areas and selected dry areas of the park will further decrease elephant's range and hence a relatively less resource use in monitoring and patrols.     

Seasonal decline of the tomato leafminer,Tuta absoluta,in the shifting landscape of a vegetable‐growing area

Insect pest populations exhibit seasonal dynamics in response to changes in resource availability or other environmental factors such as climatic conditions, natural enemies, and intra‐ or interspecific competition. Understanding such dynamics is critical for developing effective integrated pest management strategies. The objective of the present study was to identify factors driving the seasonal decline of the tomato leafminer, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), in the shifting landscape of a vegetable‐growing area in Senegal. A set of 42 tomato fields was monitored for the number of T. absoluta adults caught in pheromone traps and for the incidence of larvae, during 5 months from June to November 2016 in the Niayes area (Senegal). The surface of solanaceous host crops, climatic conditions, and abundance of natural enemies were also monitored. A drastic decline in T. absoluta abundance was observed during the rainy season. The decrease in resource availability, especially tomato crops, in the surrounding landscape of monitored fields was the main factor affecting the population dynamics during the rainy season. However, alternative host crops such as eggplant and Ethiopian eggplant, can provide ‘reservoirs’ for residual populations of the pest. For applied purpose, it would be interesting to focus the management efforts on residual populations during the rainy season, to make more difficult the reconstitution of populations during the dry season.     

Diet and Geophagy Across a Western Amazonian Parrot Assemblage

We identified species‐ and community‐level dietary characteristics for a species‐rich Amazonian parrot assemblage to determine relationships among dietary metrics and use of geophagy sites. Previous studies suggest that soil is consumed at geophagy sites in this region mainly to supplement dietary sodium. We accumulated 1400 feeding records for 16 parrot species over 2 yr and found that seeds, flowers, and fruit pulp featured prominently in diets, while bark, insects, and lichen were consumed in small quantities. Food availability across 1819 trees was measured, and we found that flower availability was highest in the dry season and fruit production peaked in the wet season, but that phenology patterns of the 20 most commonly foraged plant species suggest no serious food bottlenecks. Partitioning of available food resources among the 13 most commonly encountered parrots is suggested by an ordination analysis (DCA), which placed the large macaws (Ara) with the Amazona parrots at the ‘primary forest’ end of a dietary resource axis and four smaller species at the ‘successional forest’ end of the axis. Parrot species associated with successional forest also consumed less plant species overall. Furthermore, these parrot species consuming successional forest resources had higher claylick visitation rates than those consuming primary forest resources suggesting they derive the greatest benefits from soil consumption.     

Paternity in wild ring‐tailed lemurs (Lemur catta): Implications for male mating strategies

In group‐living species with male dominance hierarchies where receptive periods of females do not overlap, high male reproductive skew would be predicted. However, the existence of female multiple mating and alternative male mating strategies can call into question single‐male monopolization of paternity in groups. Ring‐tailed lemurs (Lemur catta) are seasonally breeding primates that live in multi‐male, multi‐female groups. Although established groups show male dominance hierarchies, male dominance relationships can break down during mating periods. In addition, females are the dominant sex and mate with multiple males during estrus, including group residents, and extra‐group males—posing the question of whether there is high or low male paternity skew in groups. In this study, we analyzed paternity in a population of wild L. catta from the Bezà Mahafaly Special Reserve in southwestern Madagascar. Paternity was determined with 80–95% confidence for 39 offspring born to nine different groups. We calculated male reproductive skew indices for six groups, and our results showed a range of values corresponding to both high and low reproductive skew. Between 21% and 33% of offspring (3 of 14 or three of nine, counting paternity assignments at the 80% or 95% confidence levels, respectively) were sired by extra‐troop males. Males siring offspring within the same group during the same year appear to be unrelated. Our study provides evidence of varying male reproductive skew in different L. catta groups. A single male may monopolize paternity across one or more years, while in other groups, >1 male can sire offspring within the same group, even within a single year. Extra‐group mating is a viable strategy that can result in extra‐group paternity for L. catta males.     

Face to face with the woolly spider monkey. Review of faces in the forest: The Endangered Muriqui Monkeys of Brazil,by Karen B. Strier. New York,Oxford University Press,Inc., 1992, 138 pp, $49.50

During an intertroop encounter, an infanticide was observed in a population of ringtailed lemurs (Lemur catta) at Berenty Reserve, Madagascar. The killer was a male that had not been previously observed to mate with any females in the infant's troop. This observation, combined with other observations of infanticidal behavior by males at Berenty Reserve and the Duke University Primate Center, is consistent with the hypothesis that infanticide is a reproductive tactic for some male ringtailed lemurs. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Abundance and Leaf Damage Caused by Gall‐Inducing Insects in a Mexican Tropical Dry Forest1

We evaluated the temporal and spatial patterns of abundance and the amount of damage caused by gall‐inducing insects (GII) in deciduous and riparian habitats in a seasonal tropical dry forest in Mexico. Plants occurring in these habitats differ in their phenology and moisture availability. Deciduous habitats are seasonal and xeric, while riparian habitats are aseasonal and mesic. We found 37 GII species and each one was associated with a specific plant species. In total, 19 species (51.3%) were present in deciduous habitats, 13 species (35.2%) in riparian habitats, and only 5 species (13.5%) occurred in both. Abundance and leaf damage by GII were greater in deciduous than in riparian habitats during the wet season. For each GII species that occurred in both habitats, host plant species supported greater abundance and leaf damage by GII in deciduous habitats during the wet season. These results indicate a greater association of GII species with host plants in deciduous than in riparian habitats during the wet season. In riparian habitats, 11 plant species (61.1%) had greater density of GII in the dry than in the wet season. Similarly, leaf damage by GII was significantly greater in the dry than in the wet season in riparian habitats for 12 plant species (66.7%). Dry forest plants of riparian habitats presented two peaks of leaf‐flushing: GII colonized leaves produced in the first peak at the beginning of the wet season, and accumulated or recolonized leaves in the second peak at the beginning of the dry season. The levels of leaf damage by GII detected in this study in the rainy season were considerably higher than those obtained for folivorous insects in other neotropical forests, suggesting that this GII guild might have an important impact on their host plant species in this tropical community.     

Chemical Properties of the Diets of Two Lemur Species in Southwestern Madagascar

Seasonal dietary variations demonstrate the importance of certain plant parts during the year. A parallel analysis of their nutritional constituents provides further information on underlying patterns of consumption of the plant parts and the relative importance of key nutrients. I studied the diets of Lemur catta (ring-tailed lemurs) and Propithecus verreauxi verreauxi (sifakas), for 9 mo over a 13-mo period in the highly seasonal tropical dry forest site of Beza Mahafaly in southwestern Madagascar. I tested dietary plant parts for nutrients—protein, free amino acids, and sugars—and for 2 potential deterrents, phenolics and tannins, using plant extracts prepared in the field. I compared consumption of nutrients and secondary compounds throughout the year and between seasons. Nutrients are balanced throughout the year. The 2 lemur species do not appear nutrient-starved in either season, though actual quantities of nutrients and contributing food parts differ for each species. Lemur catta consumes high levels of sugar throughout the year, whereas Propithecus takes in higher levels of protein. The effects of phenolics and tannins are quantitative, and they appear to deter consumption of plant parts only past a certain threshold. Sifakas consume them in greater quantities than those of ring-tailed lemurs, which appear more sensitive to their effects. Sifakas may have a higher tolerance for secondary plant metabolites, which is consistent with reports for other folivores. The overall stability of nutrients throughout the year indicates no lean period that coincides with the decline in food abundance during the dry season, though actual caloric intake probably decreases.     

Characterization of new microsatellite loci for the ring‐tailed lemur (Lemur catta)

In this report we describe the development and characterization of six dinucleotide microsatellite loci for the ring‐tailed lemur (Lemur catta). The new markers were isolated from the genomic DNA of L. catta and all loci were found to be polymorphic when evaluated by genotyping a minimum of 34 individuals. Mendelian inheritance of each locus was verified using four families of captive ring‐tailed lemurs. The loci presented will facilitate the genetic survey of free‐ranging L. catta, enabling study of their social organization and mating patterns.     

Natural history and demography of <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Thalpomys lasiotis</Emphasis> (Thomas, 1916), a rare and endemic species from the Brazilian savanna

Hairy-eared cerrado mouse Thalpomys lasiotis is an endemic species of the cerrado biome. It can be found in open habitats, but its distribution is patchy and population numbers are unknown. In this paper, we describe, for the first time, aspects related to the ecology and natural history of T. lasiotis, detailing demographic parameters such as population densities, reproduction, home range, and longevity of this endemic and rare species. We captured, marked, and recaptured 55 individuals of T. lasiotis in águas Emendadas Ecological Station, located in the northeast of the Federal District, Brazil. We found significant differences on population numbers and densities between the dry and wet seasons. Densities and population numbers apparently are affected by the seasonality of food resources. Moreover, the breeding season is seasonal, and both males and females were reproductively active during the wet season. T. lasiotis showed a permanence time ranging from 2–9 months, which means that individuals can survive for at least 9 months in natural habitats. The home ranges of males and females of T. lasiotis were not significantly different. However, males have larger home ranges than females and the mean distance moved by males was higher than the distance moved by females, which is consistent with the hypothesis that males belonging to polygynous species tend to move greater distances to avoid agonistic encounters and to search sexual partners.