Distribución Actual y Potencial de<i>Cabassous tatouay</i>y<i>Tamandua tetradactyla</i>en el Límite sur de su Distribución: Implicancias para su Conservación en Uruguay

Cabassous tatouay and Tamandua tetradactyla are the least frequent of the five xenarthran species currently present in Uruguay. Given the scarce records for these species, their potential distribution was modeled using the software Maxent in order to identify the most favorable areas for their presence and assess their occurrence within the National System of Protected Areas (SNAP). Records of the species were obtained through bibliographical searches and revisions of the major scientific collections of the country. Records from hunters and rural inhabitants were also compiled. The obtained maps show that the most favorable areas for T. tetradactyla in Uruguay are located in the Department of Cerro Largo, mainly along the Yaguarón River and Sierra de Ríos. Cabassous tatouay showed a favorability value greater than 0.90 within Uruguayan territory, spanning the Departments of Cerro Largo, Treinta y Tres, Lavalleja, and Maldonado. The overlay of the distribution maps and the SNAP protected areas revealed little overlap, with the latter usually not occurring in the most favorable sites for these species. We consider it necessary to strengthen research on these species in order to develop nationwide conservation plans.