New Records of the Hoary Fox, Lycalopex vetulus (Lund, 1842) in an Anthropized Region of the Atlantic Forest, Southeastern Brazil

Abstract

The hoary fox (Lycalopex vetulus) is the only mammalian carnivore endemic to Brazil. While its diet has been described in some regions, little is known about its population parameters, including its geographic distribution. Although traditionally considered endemic to the Cerrado, recent records from ecotone regions suggest its presence in other Brazilian biomes at enclaves of Cerrado or altered landscapes. This study presents new records of the hoary fox in two regions of Zona da Mata, Minas Gerais: Juiz de Fora and Viçosa, in areas originally covered by Atlantic Forest. In Juiz de Fora, two camera trap records were obtained in 2022, in an abandoned pasture near a small forest fragment. In Viçosa, a roadkilled individual was recorded in 2024. These records expand the species' known range 150 km eastward into the Atlantic Forest biome. The study areas have been historically subjected to forest conversion to agriculture, particularly exotic pastures, which may facilitate the expansion of species tolerant to open habitats, such as the hoary fox. It remains unclear whether these occurrences result from habitat transformations due to human activities or represent natural distributions. Understanding and updating the species' distribution is essential for estimating population size, assessing its responses to landscape changes and improving extinction risk assessments. Given its ‘Near Threatened’ status, both in national (ICMBio) and international assessments (IUCN), and limited research, we encourage studies presenting new occurrence records to support natural history knowledge and conservation efforts.