Genetic Diversity of Cabassous squamicaudis Lund, 1845 (Cingulata: Chlamyphoridae) in the Cerrado of Mato Grosso do Sul

• Grant number: 24/21997-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: March 01, 2025
• End date: December 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Animal Genetics
• Principal Investigator: Pedro Manoel Galetti Junior
• Grantee: Miguel Henrique Valentim Sanches
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 21/10639-5 - Center for Research on Biodiversity Dynamics and Climate Change, AP.CEPID

Abstract

Understanding a species' genetic diversity and how it is distributed across its populations is crucial for predicting the persistence of endangered species and for formulating viable management plans. However, such information is unknown for a large number of groups, such as armadillos of the genus Cabassous, which have no data regarding their genetic diversity or population structure. Among the species of the genus, the Cerrado naked-tailed armadillo, Cabassous squamicaudis, the taxon of interest in this study, was considered as a separate species from Cabassous unicinctus only in 2021, after a new review of the genus. Because of this, C. squamicaudis does not have its conservation status assessed individually and is practically unknown to most scientific fields. C. squamicaudis is distributed across a large part of the Brazilian territory, mostly occupying areas of Cerrado and Atlantic Forest. Species with wide geographic distribution tend to follow a pattern of isolation by distance for the distribution of their genetic diversity, however, natural and anthropogenic barriers can affect their population structure. Thus, understanding the elements that act as barriers to the gene flow of the species allows us to elucidate aspects of its biology and identify management units. In this context, this project aims to characterize and compare the variation in genetic diversity for Cabassous squamicaudis in the Cerrado area of Mato Grosso do Sul, expanding knowledge about the species and contributing to its conservation in the face of constant environmental change.