Terrestrial mammal community of the protected landscape Valle del Lunarejo: a camera trap-based study

This study presents an updated inventory of the terrestrial mammal community in the Valle del Lunarejo Protected Landscape, located in northeastern Uruguay. The primary objectives were to enhance knowledge of mammal diversity and distribution in Uruguay, assess species richness, estimate the relative abundance of each identified species, and determine the activity patterns of the most abundant species through camera trap data. A total of 35 cameras were deployed, with a 1 km distance between each camera to ensure independent records, resulting in a total sampling effort of 1,877 trap nights. The results revealed the presence of 14 native and 3 exotic mammal species, with the common brown brocket (Subulo gouazoubira) being the most abundant native species, exhibiting predominantly diurnal activity. This study provides valuable data for the conservation and management of the protected area, and it also recorded two species of significant conservation concern: the Margay (Leopardus wiedii), a priority species in Uruguay, and Muñoa's Pampas cat (Leopardus munoai), one of the most threatened small wild cats globally, which is critically endangered in Uruguay.