Brazilian mammals named and described in the XVIII Century

Abstract

Based on a list up to date of Brazilian mammals named and described in XVIIIth century, the names used to describe genera and species by the mammalogists of that time are presented. Another list of 1996 shows the existence of 524 species, but the list of 2006 shows 652 species, natives and exotics, including those described after 1996 and some of XXIst century. In XVIIIth century 24 genera and 84 species were named and described, belonging to 12 orders. Of the threatened species listed in 1972, continued in 2008: Pteronura brasiliensis (Zimmermann, 1780), Tolypeutes tricintus (Linnaeus, 1758) and Myrmecophaga tridactyla (Linnaeus, 1758). Trichechus inunguis (Natterer, 1883) was replaced by Trichechus manatus (Linnaeus, 1758), and Ozotocercus bezoarticus (Linnaeus, 1758) is now out of it. Summarized biography of the authors of the taxa is presented, showing which was their university background, in order the reader can judge their professional capacities as mammalogists.