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Neotropical Helminthology

Neotropical Helminthology, 2023, vol. 17 (2), 133-143

ORIGINAL ARTICLE / ARTÍCULO ORIGINAL

CONTRIBUTION TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF PARASITIC NEMATODES IN

MAMMALS FROM SAN JUAN, ARGENTINA

CONTRIBUCIÓN AL CONOCIMIENTO DE NEMÁTODOS PARÁSITOS EN

MAMÍFEROS DE LA PROVINCIA DE SAN JUAN, ARGENTINA

Cynthia J. González-Rivas1,2, Gabriel N. Castillo2,3,4* & Ivan D. Simoncelli1

ISSN Versión Impresa 2218-6425 ISSN Versión Electrónica 1995-1403

DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.24039/rnh20231721653

Volume 17, Number 2 (jul - dec) 2023

Este artículo es publicado por la revista Neotropical Helminthology de la Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Matemática, Universidad Nacional Federico

Villarreal, Lima, Perú auspiciado por la Asociación Peruana de Helmintología e Invertebrados Aﬁ nes (APHIA). Este es un artículo de acceso abierto,

distribuido bajo los términos de la licencia Creative Commons Atribución 4.0 Internacional (CC BY 4.0) [https:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

deed.es] que permite el uso, distribución y reproducción en cualquier medio, siempre que la obra original sea debidamente citada de su fuente original.

ABSTRACT

 e endoparasitic fauna of four mammal species was analyzed: Puma concolor (Linnaeus, 1771) (cougar), Lycalopex

gymnocercus (Fischer, 1814) (grey fox), Myocastor coypus (Molina 1782) (coipus) and Tolypeutes matacus (Linnaeus, 1758)

(armadillo).  ese specimens entered the Center for Wildlife Rehabilitation, Environmental Education, and Responsible

Recreation loca ted in the province of San Juan, Argentina. Out of the four mammal species, three died on the spot.  e

necropsy of L. gymnocercus, M. coypus, and T. matacus was carried out, and it was evidenced the presence of three species

of parasitic nematodes: Physaloptera clausa Rudolphi, 1819 (Physalopteridae) in L. gymnocercus; Trichuris myocastoris

Enigk, 1933 (Trichuridae) in M. coypus; and adult females of Aspidodera sp. Railliet & Henry, 1912 in T. matacus.

Regarding P. concolor, the expulsion of nematodes was done orally, determining the presence of Toxascaris sp. Linstow,

1902 larvae (Toxocaridae). Metric and morphological data of the evidenced nematodes are presented.  e present work

mentions four new parasite-host interactions for Argentina, and the ﬁ rst records for the province of San Juan, thus

contributing to the knowledge of parasites in mammals.

Keywords: Lycalopex gymnocercus – Myocastor coypus – nematodes – Puma concolor – San Juan – Tolypeutes matacus

1 Faunístico: Centro de Rehabilitación de Fauna Silvestre, Educación Ambiental y Recreación Responsable, San Juan,

Argentina. Ruta Provincial N° 60 km 14 5400 Rivadavia, San Juan, Argentina.

2 Parasitología en animales silvestres. Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Universidad

Nacional de San Juan. Av. Ignacio de la Roza 590, 5402, San Juan, Argentina.

3 Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientíﬁ cas y Técnicas (CONICET). CIGEOBIO (Centro de Investigaciones de la

Geósfera y Biósfera) CONICET-UNSJ, Av. Ignacio de la Roza 590, 5402, San Juan, Argentina.

4 Gabinete de Investigación Diversidad y Biología de Vertebrados del Árido (DIBIOVA). Universidad Nacional de San Juan.

Av. Ignacio de la Roza 590, 5402, San Jun, Argentina.

* Corresponding author: liolaemusparvus@gmail.com

Cynthia J. González-Rivas: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8294-6999

Gabriel N. Castillo: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1519-9457

Ivan Dario Simnocelli: https://orcid.org/0009-0002-1251-6293

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González-Rivas et al.

RESUMEN

Analizamos la fauna endoparasitaria de cuatro especies de mamíferos; Puma concolor (Linnaeus, 1771) (puma), Lycalopex

gymnocercus (Fischer, 1814) (zorro gris), Myocastor coypus (Molina, 1782) (coipus) y Tolypeutes matacus (Linnaeus, 1758)

(armadillo de tres bandas) del Centro de Rehabilitación de Vida Silvestre, Educación Ambiental y Recreación Responsable

en la provincia de San Juan, Argentina. De las cuatro especies de mamíferos que ingresaron al Centro de Rehabilitación,

tres fallecieron en el lugar, posteriormente se procedió a realizar la necropsia. El análisis post mortem de L. gymnocercus,

M. coypus y T. matacus evidencio la presencia de tres especies de nemátodos parásitos; Physaloptera clausa Rudolphi, 1819

(Physalopteridae) en L. gymnocercus, Trichuris myocastoris Enigk, 1933 (Trichuridae) en M. coypus, y hembras adultas de

Aspidodera sp. Railliet & Henry, 1912 en T. matacus. Con respecto al P. concolor, expulsó los nemátodos por vía oral,

determinándose la presencia de larvas de Toxascaris sp. Linstow, 190 (Toxocaridae). Se presentan datos métricos y morfológicos

de los nemátodos. Nuestro trabajo menciona cuatro nuevas interacciones parásitos- hospedadores para Argentina y los

primeros registros para la provincia de San Juan, contribuyendo de esta forma al conocimiento parasitario en mamíferos.

Palabras claves: Lycalopex gymnocercus – Myocastor coypus – nematodos – Puma concolor – San Juan – Tolypeutes matacus

INTRODUCTION

e Center for Wildlife Rehabilitation, Environmental

Education and Responsible Recreation (Faunístico) is the

only institution for the conservation of wildlife in the

province of San Juan, Argentina. Some of the objectives

of such institution are environmental education,

rehabilitation of species and research. Among the research

tasks is to obtain knowledge of the health status of the

specimens that enter the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center,

which is why parasitological analyzes are of primary

concern to take health measures mainly in mammalian

species (González-Rivas et al., 2021).

Currently, the knowledge of parasites of wild mammals

in the province of San Juan is extremely scarce and

unknown. Approximately 50 species of mammals have

been mentioned for the province of San Juan (Bauni

et al., 2021). Of these, only three species of mammals

present endoparasitic records: Lama guanicoe Müller,

1776 (Artiodactyla, Camelidae); Chaetophractus vellerosus

Gray, 1865 (Cingulata, Chlamyphoridae); and Phyllotis

xanthopygus Waterhouse, 1837 (Rodentia, Cricetidae)

(Ezquiaga, 2013; Castillo et al., 2016; González-Rivas et

al., 2019). e rest of the mammalian species have not

been studied from an endoparasitic point of view.

Due to the lack of parasitic knowledge and studies carried

out in mammals from San Juan, we examined four species

of mammals: Puma concolor (Linnaeus, 1771), Lycalopex

gymnocercus (Fischer, 1814), Myocastor coypus (Molina,

1782) and Tolypeutes matacus (Linnaeus, 1758) that entered

the Rehabilitation Center, San Juan province, Argentina.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

e information presented in the following study was

based on the recognition of endoparasites obtained

from four species of mammals belonging to the Center

for Wildlife Rehabilitation, Environmental Education

and Responsible Recreation (Faunístico), situated in the

department of Rivadavia, San Juan province, Argentina.

e species analyzed came from the phytogeographic

region of Puna and Monte, province of San Juan,

Argentina. e Puna region is characterized by a cold and

dry climate, with great thermal amplitude, strong winds,

high radiation and prolonged periods of drought (Márquez

et al., 2016). e characteristic woody vegetation is

represented by thickets of pinchaguas (Lycium chinar Phil,

1891; L. fuscum Miers, 1854), wormwood (Artemisia

mendozana var. paramilloensis Roig & Ambrosetti 1989),

tolas (Fabiana denudata Miers, 1846), yellow ﬁrewood

(Adesmia horrida Gillies, Hook & Arn, 1832), pingo-

pingo (Ephedra multiﬂora Phil, 1889), among others. e

herbaceous stratum presents several gramineous species

of the genus Stipa and Jarava (Márquez et al., 2016). e

Monte region covers extensive arid areas with an average

rainfall of less than 100 mm/year. It has an area of 40,499

km2, corresponding to 45% of the total of the province

of San Juan. Xerophytic plants adapted to a hot and dry

climate predominate. e vegetations that predominate

are Zygophyllaceae, Malpighiaceae and Fabaceae. Among

the family Zygophyllaceae we can mention jarilla (Larrea

divaricata Cav 1800, Larrea cuneifolia Cav 1800), retamo

(Bulnesia retama Gillies ex Hook & Arn 1874), manca

potrillo (Plectrocarpa tetracantha Gillies ex Hook & Arn

1833); from Malpighiaceae we can mention Tricomaria

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Neotropical Helminthology (Lima). Vol. 17, Nº2, jul - dic 2023

ucillo Hook & Arn 1833; and from Fabaceae there are

shrubby species such as Prosopis, the tintitaco (Prosopis

torquata Cav. ex Lag. 1825), lamar (Prosopis alpataco Phil

1862) (Márquez et al., 2016).

Between January 2019 and November 2020 the following

species were analyzed: Puma concolor (Felidae) (n=1)

from the Puna ecoregion; and Lycalopex gymnocercus

(Canidae) (n=1), Myocastor coypus (Echimyidae) (n=1)

and Tolypeutes matacus from the Monte ecoregion, San

Juan province, Argentina.

ree of the mammalian species (M. coypus, L.

gymnocercus and T. matacus) entered in poor sanitary

conditions, which subsequently died on the spot. During

post-mortem examinations, parasitic nematodes were

identiﬁed in stomachs and intestines.

In the case of P. concolor, the nematodes were obtained

by regurgitation (expulsion from the stomach). e

parasites were collected and preserved in 70º ethyl

alcohol. For observation, identiﬁcation/determination

of nematodes, semi-permanent preparations were made

using lactophenol solution. Parasitic intensities were

determined according to Bush et al. (1997). In all cases,

the mammal species were studied in the laboratory of the

Wildlife Rehabilitation Center (Faunístico).

Metric and morphological data of the nematodes are

presented. Measurements are in micrometers (µm) unless

otherwise indicated. Mean, standard deviation and range

are presented between parentheses. e nematodes are

deposited in the Parasitological Collection of the Center

for Wildlife Rehabilitation, Environmental Education

and Responsible Recreation (Faunístico): CRFSJ_P_26,

CRFSJ_P_36 and CRFSJ_P_39.

Ethic aspects: All applicable international, national, and/

or institutional guidelines for the care and use of animals

were strictly followed. All animal sample collection pro-

tocols complied with the current laws of Argentina. All

animal procedures performed in this research were in ac-

cordance with the ethical standards of the institution or

organization at which the study was conducted.

RESULTS

Four species of parasitic nematodes were identiﬁed:

Toxascaris sp. (Toxocaridae), Physaloptera clausa

(Physalopteridae), Trichuris myocastoris Enigk, 1933

(Trichuridae) y Aspidodera sp. (Heterakoidea).

Order Carnivora

Family Felidae

Puma concolor (Linnaeus, 1771) (Fig. 1)

Intensity: 2 larvae of Toxascaris sp.

Toxascaris sp. Linstow, 1902 (Spirurida Ascarididae)

(Fig. 2)

Figure 1. Specimen of Puma concolor (Photo: Center for Wildlife Rehabilitation, Environmental Education

and Responsible Recreation).

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González-Rivas et al.

General: Large and white nematodes. Intestinal caecum

absent. Interlabs absent. Cervical wings are slender and

lance-shaped.

Larvae (based on 2 specimens) (µm): Length (mm)

11.5 ±0.7 (11–12); total width 286 ±4.9 (283–290);

cervical wing length 1137 ±3.5 (1135–1140); cervical

wing width 44 ±1.4 (43–45); distance of nerve ring 485

±7.07 (480–490); muscular esophagus length 2925 ±36

(2900–2951).

Site of infection: Stomach.

Collection place: Center for Wildlife Rehabilitation,

Environmental Education and Responsible Recreation

(Faunistic).

Deposited material: CRFSJ_P_36.

Figure 2. Larval stage Toxascaris sp. recorded in P. concolor. Anterior view (A); middle and anterior view (B).

e lance-shaped cervicals are observed= a.

Order Carnivora

Family Canidae

Lycalopex gymnocercus (Fischer, 1814) (Fig. 3)

Intensity: 3 males and 7 females of Physaloptera clausa

Physaloptera clausa Rudolphi, 1819 (Spirurida: Physa-

lopteridae) (Fig. 4)

General: White nematodes. Cuticle thick, with

transverse striations. Evident sexual dimorphism.

Cephalic collar present. Oral opening surrounded

by two lateral pseudolabia; each pseudolip with two

cephalic papillae. Esophagus with a short muscular and

long glandular portion. e nerve ring surrounds the

muscular esophagus. Spicules of diﬀerent size, unequal

in length; left spicule longer and narrower; short right

spicule, wider than left spicule. 4 pairs of pedunculated

papillae. Anterior cloaca region with 3 sessile papillae

(median papilla larger than lateral papillae), posterior

margin with 2 pairs of sessile papillae. 3 additional pairs

of sessile postcloacal ventral papillae.

Male (based on 3 adult specimens) (µm): Total length

(mm) 35.5 ±1.86 (34–37.6); width at level of excretory

pore 838 ±1 (837–839); muscular esophagus length 685

±4 (681–689); glandular esophagus length 2498.6 ±1.53

(2497–2500); nerve ring 454.6 ±1.15 (454–456); right

spicule 438 ±17.09 (420–454); left spicule 796.3 ±2.08

(794–798).

Female (based on 2 gravid adults) (µm): Total length

(mm) 45.5 ±2.12 (44–47); width at level of excretory

pore 1032 ±4.24 (1029–1035); muscular esophagus

length 685.5 ±6.36 (681–690); glandular esophagus

length 4520 ±28.2 (4500–4540); nerve ring 558.5 ±12

(550–567); vulva distance (mm) 7.5 ±0.71 (7–8); egg

width 25.5 ±0.7 (25–26); egg length 37.7 ±0.35 (37.5–

38).

Site of infection: Stomach.

Collection place: Center for Wildlife Rehabilitation,

Environmental Education and Responsible Recreation

(Faunistic).

Deposited material: CRFSJ_P_26.

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Figure 3. Specimen of Lycalopex gymnocercus (Photo: Center for Wildlife Rehabilitation, Environmental

Education and Responsible Recreation).

Figure 4. Physaloptera clausa recorded on L. gymnocercus. Anterior view, male (A); posterior view, male

(B and C); middle view, female (D).

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González-Rivas et al.

Order Rodentia

Family Echimydae

Myocastor coypus (Molina 1782) (Fig. 5)

Intensity: 5 males and 8 females of Trichuris myocastoris

Trichuris myocastoris Enigk, 1933 (Trichocephalida:

Trichuridae) (Fig. 6, 7)

General: Robust, white, non-ﬁliform body. Transversely

striated cuticle. Males with spiral back of body; spicule in

a foreskin-like sheath, with spiny outer surface. Females

with slightly curved posterior end, not spiral. Vulva near

the junction of the two body parts. Oviparous. Lemon-

like eggs with a thick brown peel and a polar thickening

at each end.

Male (based on 2 adult specimens) (µm): Total length

(mm) 42.5 ±0.7 (42–43); posterior width 391 ±1.4

(390–392); anterior length (mm) 27.5 ±0.7 (27–28);

anterior width 57 ±1.4 (56–58); spicule length (mm) 2.1

±0.1 (2–2.20); spicule width 29.5 ±0.7 (29–30).

Female (based on 2 gravid adult specimens) (µm):

Total length (mm) 44.5 ±2.1 (43–46); posterior width

564 ±5.6 (560–568); anterior length (mm) 23 ±1.4 (22–

24); anterior widt 133 ±4.2 (130–136); vulva distance

(mm) 26 ±1.4 (25–27); wide egg 39.5 ±0.7 (39–40); egg

length 66.5 ±2.12 (65–68).

Site of infection: Large intestine and cecum.

Collection place: Center for Wildlife Rehabilitation,

Environmental Education and Responsible Recreation

(Faunistic).

Deposited material: CRFSJ_P_36.

Figure 5. Specimen of Myocastor coypus (Photo: Center for Wildlife Rehabilitation,

Environmental Education and Responsible Recreation).

Figure 6. Trichuris myocastoris recorded on M. coypus, adult male. Anterior view (A and B);

posterior view, spicule (C); middle view (D); detail of anterior view (E).

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Order Cingulata

Family Chlamyphoridae

Tolypeutes matacus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Fig. 8)

Intensity: 5 adult gravid females of Aspidodera sp.

Aspidodera sp. Railliet & Henry, 1912 (Ascaridida: Aspi-

doderidae) (Figs. 9, 10)

General: Adult nematodes with presence of recurrent

and anteriorly anastomosed cephalic cords. Mouth with

Figure 7. Trichuris myocastoris recorded on M. coypus, female, adult. Median view, with eggs and

vulva (A); median view with eggs (B).

three lips. Nerve ring located near the middle esophagus.

Gravid females, with the vulva near the middle of the

body. Eggs with ellipsoid shape, thick and smooth shell.

Female (based on 2 gravid adult specimens) (mm):

Total length 7.95 ±0.07 (7.9– 8); total width 0.7 ±0.03

(0.68–0.72); esophagus length (including the bulb) 2.38

±0.03 (2.36– 2.40); Distance of nerve ring 1.45 ±0.07

(1.40– 1.50); vulva length 4.45 ±0.07 (4.40– 4.50); egg

width 0,04 (0.04– 0.05); egg length 0.05 (0.05).

Figure 8. Specimen of Tolypeutes matacus (Photo: Center for Wildlife Rehabilitation, Environmental

Education and Responsible Recreation).

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González-Rivas et al.

DISCUSSION

We analyzed the wildlife of mammals in the province

of San Juan, Argentina, in search of endoparasites. Our

analyzes allowed us to identify Toxascaris sp. (Toxocaridae)

in P. concolor, P. clausa (Physalopteridae) in L. gymnocercus,

T. myocastoris (Trichuridae) in M. coypus and gravid adult

females of Aspidodera sp. in T. matacus. All the records

found turn out to be new parasite-host interactions

and the ﬁrst records for the province of San Juan. Only

11 taxa of endoparasites in wild mammals had been

mentioned in the province of San Juan so far: coccidia

of Eimeria macusaniensis Guerrero, Hernandez, Bazalar

& Alva, 1971, Eimeria ivitaensis Leguıá & Casas, 1998,

Figure 9. Aspidodera sp. recorded on T. matacus, female, adult. Anterior view (A) and detail of cephalic

cords (B).

Figure 10. Aspidodera sp. recorded on T. matacus, female, adult. Middle view (A) and eggs (B).

Eimeria sp. Schneider, 1875, (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae),

Nematodirus sp. Ransom, 1907 (Nematodirinae:

Molineidae) and Trichuris sp. (Linnaeus, 1771)

(Trichocephalida: Trichuridae) in Lama guanicoe (Müller,

1776) (González-Rivas et al., 2019); Pterygodermatites

(P) argentinensis Ezquiaga, Rios, Abba & Navone, 2017,

Pterygodermatites (P) chaetophracti Navone & Lombrdero,

1980, Trichohelix tuberculata (Parona & Stossich, 1901),

Aspidodera fasciata (Schneider, 1866) and Aspidodera

scoleciformis (Diesing, 1851) in Chaetophractus vellerosus

(Gray, 1865) (Ezquiaga, 2013; Ezquiaga et al., 2013;

2017) and Pterygodermatites (P) kozeki has been recorded

in Phyllotis xanthopygus (Waterhouse 1837) (Castillo et

al., 2016). In our work we mention 4 new records of

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parasites, as well as new interactions with hosts never

mentioned before for the province of San Juan. In this

way, we raise to 15 the endoparasite species mentioned in

wild mammals in San Juan.

e most common species to ﬁnd in P. concolor are

Toxocara canis (Werner, 1782), Toxocara cati (Schrank,

1788), and Toxascaris leonina. We mention larval stages

of Toxascaris (Leiper, 1907) in P. concolor, which were

expelled orally. e genus Toxascaris is made up of 6

species (Hodda, 2022), with a monoxene cycle and

veterinary importance among predatory mammals of

the Felidae families (Okulewicz et al., 2012; Taylor et

al., 2016; Fugassa, 2020). e infective stage is the egg

containing 2 or 3 larvae. e eggs develop to the infective

stage rapidly. After ingestion and hatching, the larvae

enter the wall of the small intestine and remain for about

2 weeks. Adult stages appear approximately 6 weeks

after infection (Taylor et al., 2016). In Toxascaris, the

cervical wings are long and narrow, resembling a spear,

a characteristic that diﬀerentiates it from Toxocara cati

(Schrank, 1788). However, in T. cati the cervical wings

are short, similar to an arrowhead (Taylor et al., 2016).

e Toxascaris nematode has been recorded in P. concolor

in diﬀerent South American countries (Fugassa, 2020),

with a single record in Argentina in the province of Santa

Cruz (Moleón et al., 2015; Vega et al., 2018; Fugassa,

2020). Our work reports a new mention, this being the

second record for Toxascaris in P. concolor for Argentina

and the ﬁrst mention for the province of San Juan.

e genus Physaloptera Rudolphi, 1819, is made up of a

total of 144 species (Hodda, 2022) and includes stomach

parasites of mammals and other vertebrates (Anderson et

al., 1974; Taylor et al., 2016). e life cycle is heteroxenous,

where eggs expelled in the feces develop into infective

larvae when ingested by coprophagous beetles, crickets,

and other insects. e life cycle is completed when the

deﬁnitive hosts ingest intermediate hosts (Taylor et al.,

2016). In Argentina, there is only one mention of P.

clausa in the fox L. gymnocercus, corresponding to the

province of Neuquén (Stein et al., 1994; Fugassa, 2020).

In our work we mention the second record for Argentina

in the gray fox L. gymnocercus and the ﬁrst record for the

province of San Juan.

e genus Trichuris contains 107 species (Hodda, 2022)

with a cosmopolitan distribution, being found in the

cecum and colon of various mammalian species (Taylor

et al., 2016; Robles & Navone, 2014). ese species are

known as “whipworms” due to a broad back end and

a long, ﬁlamentous front end (Anderson et al., 1974;

Taylor et al., 2016). e back end of the male is highly

coiled and it has a single spicule in a protractile sheath

(Taylor et al., 2016). Trichuris myocastoris was described

by Enigk (1933), later Baruš et al. 1975 redescribed the

species (Rylková et al., 2015). is species has mainly

been mentioned in M. coypus in diﬀerent localities

in South America (Fugassa, 2020), and it has been

mentioned twice parasitizing M. coypus in in Argentina,

in the province of Buenos Aires and Chaco, by Martino

et al. (2012) and Boero & Boehringer (1967). Our work

reports a new mention of T. myocastoris, this being the

third record of T. myocastoris in M. coypus for Argentina

and the ﬁrst for the province of San Juan.

e genus Aspidodera Railliet & Henry, 1912, contains

mainly parasites of marsupials, Xenarthrans and rodents

in South America (Anderson et al., 1974), currently

with 9 valid species (Hodda, 2022). e diﬀerent species

of Aspidodera have been recorded in mammals of the

order cingulata, with records of Aspidodera binansata

(Raillet & Henry, 1913), Aspidodera fasciata (Schneider,

1866), Aspidodera raillieti (Travassos, 1913), Aspidodera

scoleciformis (Diesing, 1851) and Aspidodera vazi

(Proença, 1937) in Chlamyphorus truncatus Harlan, 1825,

Chaetophractus villosus (Desmarest, 1804), Chaetophractus

vellerosus, Dasypus hybridus (Desmarest, 1804) and T.

matacus (Fugassa, 2020). In San Juan, only A. fasciata and

A. scoleciformis have been mentioned in Ch. vellerosus for

the Usno locality, department of Valle Fértil. We mention

the genus Aspidodera sp. in the armadillo T. matacus.

Our work contributes to the parasitic knowledge of wild

mammals by mentioning new parasite-host interactions

for the province of San Juan and Argentina.

Author contributions: CRediT (Contributor Roles

Taxonomy)

CJGR = Cynthia J. González-Rivas

GNC = Gabriel N. Castillo

IDS = Ivan D. Simoncelli

Conceptualization: CJGR, GNC, IDS

Data curation: CJGR, GNC

Formal Analysis: GNC

Funding acquisition: CJGR, IDS

Investigation: CJGR, GNC

Methodology: GNC

Project administration: CJGR

Resources: IDS

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González-Rivas et al.

Software: CJGR, GNC

Supervision: GNC

Validation: CJGR, GNC

Visualization: CJGR, GNC

Writing – original draft: GNC

Writing – review & editing: CJGR

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We thank authorities and intendente of the Municipality

of Rivadavia, San Juan province. We also thank Faunistico:

Wildlife Rehabilitation, Environmental Education and

Responsible Recreation Center. We thank Agostina

González-Rivas assisted us in drafting the English version.

e authors declare no competing interests.

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Received August 15, 2023.

Accepted October 4, 2023.