THERYA NOTES 2021, Vol. 2 : 65-72 DOI: 10.12933/therya_notes-21-37 ISSN 2954-3614

Current distribution of the Mexican hairy dwarf porcupine, Sphiggurus mexicanus, in Guerrero, México

Distribución actual del puercoespín enano peludo mexicano, Sphiggurus mexicanus en Guerrero, México

Angel Neftali Osorio-Rodriguez1, 2*, Enrique Vázquez-Arroyo2, José Alberto Almazán-Catalán2, 3, David Uriostegui Farias2, Alejandro Juárez-Agis3, and Luis Alvin Garzón López4

1Laboratorio Integral de Fauna Silvestre (Área Ornitología), Facultad de Ciencias Químico-Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Guerrero. Av. Lázaro Cárdenas s/n., Ciudad Universitaria Sur, C. P. 39090. Chilpancingo de los Bravo, Guerrero, México. E-mail: neftali.eptesicusfuscus@gmail.com (ANO-R).

2Instituto para el Manejo y Conservación de la Biodiversidad A. C. Calle Durango 23, Colonia José Vasconcelos, C. P. 39070. Chilpancingo de los Bravo, Guerrero, México. E-mail: enriquevazquezarroyo@hotmail.com (EV-A); uriostegui601@gmail.com (DUF).

3Escuela Superior de Ciencias Ambientales, Universidad Autónoma de Guerrero. Carretera Cayaco-Puerto Marqués, Ejido Llano Largo Parcela 56, 57 y 58, Campus Llano Largo, C. P. 39906. Acapulco, Guerrero, México. E-mail: inmacob.ac@gmail.com (JAA-C); ajuarezagis@hotmail.com (AJ-A).

4Escuela Superior de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Autónoma de Guerrero. Av. Universidad s/n, Ex Rancho Shalako, C. P. 39105. Chilpancingo de los Bravo, Guerrero, México. E-mail: bioalvinuacn@yahoo.com.mx (LAGL).

*Corresponding author

The Mexican hairy dwarf porcupine, Sphiggurus mexicanus, is listed as threatened in the Mexican regulations. It has previously been recorded in three terrestrial ecoregions of the State of Guerrero. However, there are still several regions with no information on this species. The objective of this note is to provide a detailed account of the current distribution of S. mexicanus in the State of Guerrero and fill the information gaps on its occurrence information for the poorly studied regions. We searched for reports of S. mexicanus in electronic repositories such as Enciclovida, Naturalista, and Global Biodiversity Information Facility, as well as in scientific literature for the State of Guerrero. In addition, we created an updated database that includes recent and unpublished observations, both direct and indirect (skin, bone remains, excreta, barrows, run-over, and hunted specimens). We found a total of 59 records of S. mexicanus, of which 24 % are accounts from the literature and electronic repositories collected over the past 60 years. Within our database, 45 records correspond to 16 municipalities in Guerrero that comprise three ecoregions, of which Sierra Madre del Sur has the largest number (n = 26) of records. All sightings occurred between 7 and 2,400 m, and 58 % (n = 26) of records were either direct sightings or evidence of indirect observations over the past two decades (years 2000–2020). Our new records provide the most comprehensive data set on the distribution of S. mexicanus in 11 municipalities with no previous records. We confirmed its presence in a total of 19 municipalities in the State of Guerrero. Most of our records come from temperate forests and dry tropical forests; however, there were occasional sightings on farmland. Our observations mostly corroborated that S. mexicanus depends on high plant coverage as it was commonly found in forest habitats. Moreover, based on the results obtained from indirect observations of deceased individuals or their remains, the two major threats to populations of S. mexicanus in Guerrero appear to be hunting and running-over (resulting in road death).

Key words: Habitat; mammal; observations; rodent; southwestern México; use of tree species.

El puercoespín enano peludo mexicano Sphiggurus mexicanus está catalogado como amenazado por la ley mexicana y ha sido registrado previamente en el estado de Guerrero en tres ecorregiones terrestres. Sin embargo, todavía hay varias regiones sin información sobre esta especie. El objetivo de esta nota es proporcionar una descripción detallada de la distribución actual de S. mexicanus en el estado de Guerrero y llenar los vacíos de información de ocurrencia para las regiones poco estudiadas. Buscamos ocurrencias de S. mexicanus en repositorios electrónicos como Enciclovida, Naturalista y Global Biodiversity Information Facility, y en la literatura científica publicada para el estado de Guerrero. Adicionalmente, creamos una base de datos actualizada que incluye observaciones recientes e inéditas, tanto directas como indirectas (piel, restos óseos, excretas, púas, atropellados y cazados). Recolectamos un total de 59 registros de S. mexicanus, de los cuales el 24 % son ocurrencias extraídas de la literatura y los repositorios electrónicos recogidos en los últimos 60 años. Dentro de nuestra base de datos, 45 registros corresponden a 16 municipios de Guerrero; distribuidos en tres ecorregiones, la Sierra Madre del Sur tiene el mayor número (n = 26) de registros. Todos los avistamientos ocurrieron entre altitudes de 7 y 2,400 m y el 58 % (n = 26) de los registros corresponden a observaciones directas y evidencias de observaciones indirectas de las últimas dos décadas (2000 – 2020). Nuestros nuevos registros proporcionan el conjunto de datos más completo de la distribución de S. mexicanus en 11 municipios sin registros previos. Confirmamos su presencia en un total de 19 municipios del estado de Guerrero. La mayoría de nuestros registros provienen de bosques templados y selvas tropicales secas; sin embargo, hubo avistamientos ocasionales en tierras de cultivo. Nuestras observaciones corroboraron en su mayoría la dependencia de la especie de una alta cobertura vegetal, ya que fue encontrada comúnmente en hábitats arbóreos. Además, con base en los resultados obtenidos de las observaciones indirectas de individuos fallecidos y/o sus restos, las dos mayores amenazas para las poblaciones de S. mexicanus en Guerrero parecen ser la cacería y los atropellamientos (que resultan en muerte en carretera).

Palabras clave: Hábitat; mamífero; observaciones; roedor; suroeste de México; uso de especies arbóreas.

© 2021 Asociación Mexicana de Mastozoología, www.mastozoologiamexicana.org

The tropical porcupine Sphiggurus mexicanus is a medium-sized rodent with a robust body covered mostly by spines and a long tail and prehensile (Juárez-G.
2005
; Aranda 2012). It is an arboreal, solitary, and nocturnal species (Aranda 2012) that can have a home range of approximately 10 hectares (Wainwright 2002). In particular, S. mexicanus is classified as threatened based on the Mexican legislation (SEMARNAT 2010) and as a minor concern at the international level (Vázquez et al. 2016).

In México, Sphiggurus mexicanus is distributed along the two coastal (Gulf and Pacific) slopes, from San Luis Potosí to the Yucatán peninsula and from Michoacán to Chiapas (Juárez-G. 2005), and along the Sierra Madre Oriental (Ramírez-Bravo 2012; Lira-Torres et al. 2014). It has been recorded in various types of vegetation, including coastal dunes (Briones-Salas and Sánchez-Cordero 2004), evergreen and sub-evergreen (Juárez-G.
2005
; Lira-Torres et al. 2005; Mejenes-López et al. 2010; Lira-Torres et al. 2014), subtropical and deciduous tropical forests (Briones-Salas and Sánchez-Cordero 2004; Juárez-G.
2005
; Lira-Torres et al. 2005; Ramírez-Bravo 2012; Lira-Torres et al. 2014; Lorenzo et al. 2014), temperate forests (Monterrubio-Rico et al. 2010; Lira-Torres et al. 2014), and mountain cloud forests (Juárez-G. 2005; Lira-Torres et al. 2014; Cisneros-Palacios et al. 2015). In addition, it thrives in areas with a certain degree of disturbance (Riechers-Pérez 2004; Faller-Menéndez et al. 2005; Lira-Torres et al. 2005; Lira-Torres 2006; Barragán et al. 2010; Cisneros-Palacios et al. 2015; Galindo-Aguilar and Lavariega 2019), in an altitudinal range from sea level to 3,200 m (Juárez-G. 2005).

In Guerrero, there are historical records of the presence of S. mexicanus in the municipalities of Acapulco de Juárez, Atoyac de Álvarez, Chilpancingo de los Bravo, Juan R. Escudero, Leonardo Bravo, Ometepec, Petatlán, and Zirándaro, located in the terrestrial ecoregions (TE; INEGI-CONABIO-INE 2008): Balsas Depression (BD); Sierra Madre del Sur (SMS); and Planicie Costera y Lomeríos del Pacífico Sur (South Pacific Coastal Plains and Hills; SPCPH), which span across an altitudinal range between 11 and 2,216 m (Leopold 1959; Hall 1981; Lozano-Guzmán 1983; Sánchez-Hernández and Gaviño de la Torre 1988; León-Paniagua and Romo-Vázquez 1991; Jiménez-Almaraz et al. 1993; Almazán-Núñez et al. 2011; Marín et al. 2016; Espinosa-Martínez et al. 2017; Almazán-Núñez et al. 2018; Zavala- Sánchez et al. 2018; Ruiz-Gutiérrez et al. 2020). In Guerrero, the records correspond to low deciduous forest, oak, pine-oak and mountain cloud forests (Leopold 1959; Lozano-Guzmán 1983; Sánchez-Hernández and Gaviño de la Torre 1988; León-Paniagua and Romo-Vázquez 1991; Jiménez-Almaraz et al. 1993; Almazán-Núñez et al. 2011; Marín et al. 2016; Almazán-Núñez et al. 2018; Zavala- Sánchez et al. 2018).

Although there are records of S. mexicanus in Guerrero, the information on its distribution is incomplete since there are large areas considered within its potential distribution range, but where its presence has not been reported. As a result, its distribution area may be either over- or underestimated. The main objective of this study is to collect and expand the knowledge of the current distribution of S. mexicanus in the State of Guerrero, generating new information for the regions lacking data and determining its current distribution more accurately.

Study Area. The State of Guerrero is located in southwest México between coordinates 16° 42’ 16.21”, 18° 46’ 56.73” N and 98° 00’ 40.59”, 102° 10’ 40.20” W. Its territory is part of four terrestrial ecoregions (TE): Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt (TMVB), Balsas Depression (BD), Sierra Madre del Sur (SMS), and Planicie Costera y Lomeríos del Pacífico Sur (South Pacific Coastal Plains and Hills; SPCPH; INEGI-CONABIO-INE 2008). The State of Guerrero has an elevation range from sea level to 3,550 m. The vegetation types include mountain cloud forest, pine, pine-oak and oak-pine forests, low deciduous tropical forest, medium subdeciduous tropical forest, mangrove forest, and thorny scrubland, as well as secondary vegetation, induced pastures, and crop areas (INEGI 2010).

For the collection of records, reports of S. mexicanus occurrence were searched in electronic repositories that included Enciclovida (CONABIO 2019), Naturalista (Naturalista 2019), and Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF 2019). From the reports obtained, those lacking coordinates, poorly georeferenced, or not matching the study area were excluded. Likewise, we conducted a comprehensive scholar Google search of published scientific literature for the State of Guerrero using the keywords: mamíferos de Guerrero, mammals of Guerrero, puerco espín tropical (tropical porcupine), puerco espín (porcupine), porcupine, Coendou mexicanus, Sphiggurus mexicanus.

In addition, new records of secondary sightings were obtained while carrying out activities related to several research projects on terrestrial vertebrates by the authors. These data were collected through direct sightings of live individuals and indirect observations of specimen signs (skin, bone remains, excreta, spines) and specimens killed by different factors (e.g., run over or hunted by humans and domestic dogs; Figure 1). All historical and recent records were entered in a georeferenced database.

We obtained a total of 59 records of S. mexicanus, of which 19 % (n = 11) proceeded from the scientific literature published between 1959 and 2020; 5 % (n = 3) are data from electronic repositories collected between 1904 and 2019, and 76 % (n = 45) corresponds to field sampling over the past two decades (Figure 2; Table 1).

The highest percentage (58 %) of records (n = 26) of S. mexicanus corresponded to live organisms observed in the field and 42 % (n = 19) to dead organisms, of which 24 % (n = 11) pertained to run-over and hunted animals (Table 1). The reports of the presence of this species were expanded to 19 municipalities, 3 ecoregions, and 6 vegetation types (Table 1; Figure 2). Among the records of live organisms, the highest percentage (31 %) occurred in low deciduous forests (Table 1). Observations of live organisms were associated with trees of the genera Annona, Cecropia, Curatella, Enterolobium, Ficus, Gliricidia, Inga, Mangifera, and Pithecellobium, of which Ficus and Mangifera were most common. Porcupines were recorded in daytime (08:00–18:00 hr), twilight (06:00– 8:00 hr; 18:00–0:00 hr), and nighttime (20:00–06:00 hr) hours, being more common nighttime hours (20:30, 21:00, 22:00, 22:40, 23:00 hr).

There is a lack of studies on wild mammals for the State of Guerrero, particularly for areas that are difficult to access due to topographic, political, and social issues, resulting in poor knowledge of the species and large information gaps about the actual distribution of the species (Almazán-Catalán et al. 2005; Espinosa-Martínez et al. 2017). Mammals have been studied in the State of Guerrero for almost 148 years (Espinosa-Martínez et al. 2017) and only 10 papers have been published that provide indirect information on S. mexicanus, which underlines the scarcity of information for some species (Leopold 1959; Lozano-Guzmán 1983; Sánchez-Hernández and Gaviño de la Torre 1988; León-Paniagua and Romo-Vázquez 1991; Jiménez-Almaraz et al. 1993; Almazán-Núñez et al. 2011; Marín et al. 2016; Almazán-Núñez et al. 2018; Zavala- Sánchez et al. 2018; Ruiz-Gutiérrez et al. 2020). This analysis gathers and expands for the first time the knowledge of the current distribution of S. mexicanus in the State of Guerrero.

Forty-six percent (n = 21) of our records add 11 municipalities to the distribution of S. mexicanus, where no previous records had been documented (Cocula, Copala, Coyuca de Benítez, La Unión, Malinaltepec, Mártir de Cuilapan, Mochitlán, San Luis Acatlán, Tecoanapa, Técpan de Galeana, and Tixtla de Guerrero). The updated database generated in this paper confirms the presence of the species in 19 municipalities in the State of Guerrero. In addition, the knowledge of the distribution of the species for the Balsas Depression is enriched with six additional records; to note, only a single record for this ecoregion had been reported 37 years ago, between the borders of Guerrero and Michoacán (Lozano-Guzmán 1983).

In the past 15 years, two proposals have been generated that predict the potential distribution of S. mexicanus in México and Central America (Ceballos et al. 2006; Lavariega and Briones-Salas 2019); however, 27 % (n = 12) of the records reported here do not match the distribution projections referred, as they are outside the proposed areas. The spatial distribution of living organisms is known to be dynamic and experiences contractions and expansions over time (Maciel-Mata et al. 2015), so we can expect to find records outside the known or potential distribution of the species. It is necessary to incorporate all records from this study to improve predictive distribution models; also, more georeferenced records are needed to assess habitat suitability and frequency of records in different regions.

Recent studies describe the distribution of S. mexicanus at state and national levels (e.g., Monterrubio-Rico et al. 2010; Ramírez-Bravo 2012; Lira-Torres et al. 2014; Lorenzo et al. 2014; Cisneros-Palacios et al. 2015). However, there are still several states that lack an accurate diagnosis indicating the relationship between distribution and environmental parameters. The proportion of records of live organisms reported here ranges between 43 % and 72 %; this can be considered an indirect measure of the status of possibly stable populations. We recorded a total of nine genera of tree species (Annona, Cecropia, Curatella, Enterolobium, Ficus, Gliricidia, Inga, Mangifera, Pithecellobium) used by porcupines, which is consistent with the literature (Monterrubio-Rico et al. 2010; Lorenzo et al. 2014), except for the genera Curatella and Gliricidia, which had not been reported.

The records of direct observations of S. mexicanus in this work are located at an average distance of 37 km from records of observations reported historically (Figure 2), indicating the expansion of the distribution of the species to the Balsas Depression terrestrial ecoregion in Guerrero. This information can be used in the development of new research aiming to provide information on its biology and ecology for management and conservation purposes. Our results show hunting and roadkills as causes of mortality of S. mexicanus in Guerrero; on 11 occasions, the records corresponded to affected individuals.

Sixty-seven percent (n = 30) of the records obtained are located in temperate forests (n = 19) and dry forests (n = 11). As Sphiggurus mexicanus is a species of arboreal habits (Juárez-G. 2005; Monterrubio-Rico et al. 2010), it depends on forests (Lorenzo et al. 2014), which is confirmed by most of our observations of porcupines performing activities on the canopy. The nine records located in crops support the assumption that porcupines can take advantage of crops when seeds, fruits, and buds are available, and these may be occasional records, as stated by Lorenzo et al. (2014).

This paper highlights the importance of continuing conducting scientific surveys in the state, particularly in areas that have been poorly explored. In addition, local communities should be encouraged to develop a responsible coexistence with nature, protecting forests through the certification by the National Commission on Natural Protected Areas (CONANP), which decrees Areas Purposely Dedicated to Conservation.

Acknowledgements

We thank all the people who provided assistance in data collection, especially the members of Bio-Explora Guerrero. The first author thanks E. A. Alvarez-Alvarez, P. Sierra-Morales, and M. Brito-Millan for their valuable comments that improved the manuscript. We also thank the reviewers for their comments and recommendations that helped improve this work. M. E. Sánchez-Salazar translated the manuscript into English.

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Associated editor: Romeo A. Saldaña-Vázquez

Submitted: February 17, 2020; Reviewed: February 13, 2021.

Accepted: May 2, 2021; Published on line: May 31, 2021.

Figure 1. Photographic evidence of direct and indirect observations of Sphiggurus mexicanus in 10 municipalities of Guerrero, México. a) to g) correspond to live organisms, h) to o) correspond to remains of organisms. Individuals with daytime activity observed in tree habitats, associated with humid and tropical forests (a–e). Individuals with nocturnal activity observed below the canopy in a pine forest (f) and associated with human buildings (g). Remains of S. mexicanus, spines in the snout of a domestic dog when attacking a porcupine (h); spines, hairs, and skulls of specimens apparently killed by a wild predator (i–k). Specimen as a hunting trophy (l). Specimens ran over in a highway (m) and dirt roads (n–o). © Copyright: b) Concepción Ojeda; e) Contreras Javier; h) Salmerón-Barrera; l) Poblete López.

Table 1. Database of the new records of Sphiggurus mexicanus in Guerrero, México. The numeral corresponds to the record in Figure 2. Ecoregion: BD = Balsas Depression; SMS = Sierra Madre del Sur; SPCPH = Planicie Costera y Lomeríos del Pacífico Sur (South Pacific Coastal Plain and Hills). Vegetation: LDTF = Low deciduous tropical forest; C = crops; MSETF = Medium sub-evergreen tropical forest; PF = Pine forest; MCF = Mountain Cloud Forest; OPF = Oak-Pine forest; OF = Oak forest. Type of record: a = sighting; b = hunted; c = bone remains, skin, spines, excreta; d = run over.

No.

Latitude

Longitude

Municipality

Altitude (m)

Ecoregion

Vegetation

Record type

Activity (hr)

General observations

1

18°02’56.23”N

99°45’25.86”W

Cocula

538

BD

C

Direct a

07:00

Individual crossing a crop heading toward natural vegetation (LDTF).

2

18°03’20.57”N

101°44’14.69”W

La Unión

137

BD

LDTF

Direct a

23:00

Individual climbing the middle part of a parota tree (Enterolobium cyclocarpum).

3

17°44’33.60”N

99°17’54.50”W

Mártir de Cuilapan

1,261

SMS

LDTF

Direct a

15:30

Sheltered inside a crack immersed in the ravine.

4

17°40’10.30”N

99°18’33.10”W

Mártir de Cuilapan

1,492

SMS

LDTF

Direct a

08:17

Feeding on a Ficus tree.

5

17°40’17.33”N

99°52’10.09”W

Leonardo Bravo

2,400

SMS

OPF

Indirect d

------

----------

6

17°40’04.70”N

99°56’37.50”W

Leonardo Bravo

1,384

SMS

C

Indirect c

------

----------

7

17°33’56.55”N

99°23’13.91”W

Tixtla de Guerrero

1,344

BD

C

Direct a

------

During hurricanes Ingrid and Manuel, the porcupine seek shelter in a villagers’ house; it was released afterward.

8

17°33’27.64”N

99°23’00.37”W

Tixtla de Guerrero

1,362

SMS

LDTF

Indirect c

------

----------

9

17°33’58.20”N

99°34’03.96”W

Chilpancingo de los Bravo

1,525

SMS

C

Direct a

------

Climbing a shrub; it possibly used it as shelter upon feeling threatened by the presence of people.

10

17°31’46.25”N

99°27’48.84”W

Chilpancingo de los Bravo

1,497

BD

OF

Indirect c

------

----------

11

17°29’16.26”N

99°27’14.92”W

Chilpancingo de los Bravo

1,177

BD

LDTF

Direct a

13:00

On a tree of the genus Pithecellobium; the porcupine was attacked by children from the community.

12

17°29’07.98”N

99°27’56.25”W

Chilpancingo de los Bravo

1,151

BD

C

Indirect b

------

Porcupine attacked by dogs; it died from the severity of the injuries.

13

17°29’01.53”N

99°25’23.58”W

Chilpancingo de los Bravo

1,050

SMS

LDTF

Indirect d

------

Local inhabitants comment that porcupines are misidentified for tlacuaches by their naked tail.

14

17°28’37.40”N

99°26’26.30”W

Chilpancingo de los Bravo

1,365

SMS

LDTF

Indirect c

------

----------

15

17°31’30.36”N

100°40’27.48”W

Técpan de Galeana

849

SMS

OF

Direct a

22:00

Inside the forest, two individuals were observed on the canopy.

16

17°30’29.00”N

100°41’46.00”W

Técpan de Galeana

681

SMS

OPF

Direct a

20:30

Inside the forest, an individual was observed sniffing the soil.

17

17°30’17.64”N

100°42’32.16”W

Técpan de Galeana

736

SMS

OPF

Direct a

22:00

Two organisms were observed on the canopy.

18

17°28’33.33”N

100°45’44.78”W

Técpan de Galeana

1,270

SMS

MCF

Direct a

------

An individual was observed in a mountain cloud forest.

19

17°28’30.00”N

100°45’04.45”W

Técpan de Galeana

1,336

SMS

MCF

Direct a

------

On a Cecropia obtusifolia tree.

20

17°26’53.24”N

100°13’01.34”W

Atoyac de Álvarez

1,443

SMS

MCF

Direct a

21:00

On a Ficus tree.

21

17°25’27.36”N

100°10’55.62”W

Atoyac de Álvarez

1,670

SMS

MCF

Direct a

08:00

On an Inga vera tree.

22

17°21’37.14”N

99°28’03.22”W

Chilpancingo de los Bravo

829

SMS

C

Indirect d

------

----------

23

17°21’09.48”N

99°27’03.11”W

Mochitlán

745

SMS

OF

Direct a

20:00

Climbing a large (unidentified) tree in a ravine.

24

17°19’33.55”N

99°34’12.98”W

Chilpancingo de los Bravo

651

SMS

PF

Direct a

22:40

Feeding on a Mangifera tree.

25

17°16’54.93”N

99°28’30.08”W

Chilpancingo de los Bravo

927

SMS

OPF

Direct a

20:30

Climbing a rock wall covered by Ficus petiolaris roots.

26

17°13’24.14”N

98°38’01.68”W

Malinaltepec

2,216

SMS

OPF

Direct a

------

Individual captured in a sawmill, then released into natural vegetation near the locality.

27

17°17’42.34”N

100°13’27.40”W

Atoyac de Álvarez

1,178

SMS

MCF

Indirect c

------

----------

28

17°16’15.75”N

99°57’41.74”W

Chilpancingo de los Bravo

1,070

SMS

OPF

Indirect c

------

----------

29

17°15’06.63”N

100°19’28.13”W

Atoyac de Álvarez

742

SPCPH

OPF

Direct a

10:00

On the branches of an unidentified tree.

No.

Latitude

Longitude

Municipality

Altitude (m)

Ecoregion

Vegetation

Record type

Activity (hr)

General observations

30

17°07’05.88”N

99°44’12.48”W

Acapulco de Juárez

643

SPCPH

PF

Direct a

------

On a Curatella americana tree.

31

17°06’11.52”N

99°19’50.90”W

Juan R. Escudero

542

SMS

OF

Indirect c

------

----------

32

17°04’26.21”N

99°41’39.76”W

Acapulco de Juárez

664

SPCPH

PF

Direct a

13:00

On an Annona squamosa tree.

33

17°04’22.51”N

99°41’35.68”W

Acapulco de Juárez

644

SPCPH

PF

Indirect b

------

Porcupine sighted on the top of a tree and shot after being misidentified for a badger.

34

17°03’43.63”N

98°52’58.34”W

San Luis Acatlán

1,320

SMS

PF

Indirect b

------

----------

35

17°02’46.72”N

99°19’36.60”W

Tecoanapa

739

SMS

LDTF

Direct a

13:00

Resting on an oak tree.

36

17°02’56.54”N

98°50’53.74”W

San Luis Acatlán

1,280

SMS

OPF

Indirect b

------

----------

37

17°02’57.29”N

98°49’34.95”W

San Luis Acatlán

1,100

SMS

C

Indirect b

------

----------

38

17°01’43.06”N

98°51’06.14”W

San Luis Acatlán

1,005

SMS

PF

Indirect b

------

----------

39

17°00’47.32”N

98°40’13.44”W

Malinaltepec

971

SMS

OPF

Indirect c

------

----------

40

17°00’10.14”N

100°11’43.93”W

Coyuca de Benítez

15

SPCPH

C

Indirect d

------

----------

41

16°57’48.61”N

99°53’10.05”W

Acapulco de Juárez

225

SPCPH

LDTF

Direct a

------

Porcupine climbing a Gliricidia sepium tree; the villagers saw dogs injured by porcupine spines.

42

16°54’09.00”N

99°56’21.65”W

Acapulco de Juárez

279

SPCPH

LDTF

Direct a

------

Porcupine crossing a patch with scarce vegetation, heading into denser vegetation (LDTF).

43

16°53’32.21”N

99°53’49.33”W

Acapulco de Juárez

361

SPCPH

MSETF

Direct a

07:00

Porcupine sniffing the understory.

44

16°42’04.58”N

99°38’34.56”W

Acapulco de Juárez

7

SPCPH

C

Indirect b

------

----------

45

16°39’06.97”N

98°52’42.34”W

Copala

80

SPCPH

LDTF

Direct a

18:40

Individual sheltered in a Mangifera tree.

Table 1. Continuation...

Figure 2. Map of the distribution of records of Sphiggurus mexicanus in Guerrero, México. The area marked in red is the potential distribution proposed by Ceballos et al. (2006) and Lavariega and Briones-Salas (2019). The area marked in green corresponds to the Balsas Depression terrestrial ecoregion. White circles mark the records in this study; black circles are historical records from the scientific literature and electronic repositories.