Abstract
Animal coloring serves several functions, including camouflage and thermoregulation. However, some individuals have anomalous coloring patterns due to excess (melanism) or deficiency (albinism, leucism, or piebaldism) in melanin production. Although these anomalies occur in several species, there are few cited cases. Here, we report the occurrence of color anomalies in three Neotropical deer species. Data were obtained from wildlife inventories, through direct observation, camera-traps, and/or deer carcasses, between 2011 and 2020, in three biomes—the Brazilian Savanna (Cerrado), and the Atlantic and Amazon Rain Forests. We registered 10 individuals with anomalous coloring from Minas Gerais, São Paulo, Amazonas and Rondônia states; seven Mazama gouazoubira (six piebalds and one leucistic), two piebald M. americana, and one piebald M. nemorivaga. Of the registered individuals, five were males, two females, and three of undetermined sex. To our knowledge, this is the largest set of anomalous coloring data for Neotropical deer. Even with the increasing reports of anomalous coloring, little is known about the factors that may cause this and how it influences the survival of individuals and consequently wild populations.
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Acknowledgements
This study compiles data from projects supported by COPEL Geração e Transmissão S.A./Companhia Paranaense de Energia (COPEL), Consórcio Capim Branco de Energia (CCBE), Furnas Centrais Elétricas S.A. and Secretaria de Estado do Meio Ambiente de São Paulo. Part of this study was supported by the National Geographic Society, The Horodas Family Foundation for Conservation Research, The Explorers Club, and The Henry A. Jastro Research Award. D.G.R. received a scholarship from CAPES/Doutorado Pleno no Exterior (88881.128140/2016-01). We deeply thank Fazenda Só Bloco team (Ivan N. S. Grillo and João N. S. Grillo) for providing images from anomalous individuals. Authors are also grateful to Dr. Kátia Gomes Facure and Mozart C. Freitas-Junior for reviewing previous versions of the manuscript. We thank the editor and reviewers for their valuable contributions.
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Guastalla, M.G., de Azevedo, F.C., Vogliotti, A. et al. The mysterious white deer: anomalous coloring in different Neotropical deer. Mamm Biol 101, 665–673 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42991-021-00156-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42991-021-00156-9