New data on the life history and occurrence of spiny ratsTrinomys moojeni (Rodentia: Echimyidae), in southeastern Brazil

We present new data on the life history and a new locality of occurrence ofTrinomys moojeni (Pessôaet al., 1992). The study was conducted in a region considered to be a transition zone between the Cerrado and the Atlantic Forest biomes in Minas Gérais, Brazil. Animals were sampled by the capturemark-recapture (CMR) methods between January 2001 and January 2002. Fifteen males and 34 females were captured and a total of 29 individuals were studied. Seasonal variation in the numbers ofT. moojeni males and females captured was observed; no sexual dimorphism was recorded. There was no evidence for the existence of a defined mating season. During the year, females remained in the vicinity of the study area while males dispersed over longer distances as evidenced by the fewer number of males captured. This suggests that females are more territorial.