Aqui apresentamos uma extensa pesquisa de mamíferos não-voadores ao longo das margens do Rio Jequitinhonha, região biogeográfica interessante que representa uma área de contato entre dois biomas brasileiros (Cerrado e Mata Atlântica), ainda pouco conhecidos para a fauna de mamíferos. Nossos dados foram obtidos após 13 expedições de captura (de 2005 a 2012), em ambas as margens do rio, da nascente até à foz, enriquecida por dados obtidos a partir de amostras de material depositado em seis coleções de mamíferos. Todos os espécimes coletados foram identificados através de seus cariótipos ou morfologia. Foram obtidos dados de 75 localidades (34 na margem direita, 41 à esquerda; 30 no Cerrado e 45 na Floresta Atlântica). Obtivemos registros de 91 espécies de mamíferos não-voadores, ca. de 17% de todos os mamíferos terrestres brasileiros conhecidos. Nossos resultados incluem extensões de distribuição de seis espécies (Monodelphis scalops, Thylamys velutinus, Calomys mattevii, Wiedomys pyrrhorhinos, Galea spixii, Kerodon rupestris), e informações de cariótipo de 26 espécies (11 marsupiais e 15 de roedores), com quatro novos cariótipos. Enquanto a maioria das espécies têm ampla distribuição geográfica, 26 ocorreram apenas no Cerrado e 19 apenas na Mata Atlântica. Foram registradas de 28.7% (6.3% endêmicas) de todas as espécies conhecidas para o Cerrado e 21.5% (22.2% endêmicas) da Floresta Atlântica. A riqueza da fauna registrada nesta região apoia a sua importância da compreensão na diversidade, biogeografia e evolução dos mamíferos.

Here we present an extensive survey for non-volant mammals along the margins of the Jequitinhonha River, which represents a contact area between the Cerrado and Atlantic Forest biomes. Our data were obtained after 13 trapping expeditions (from 2005 to 2012) on both banks of the river, from its source to its mouth, enriched by data obtained from a literature review and voucher specimens deposited in six mammal collections. All collected specimens were identified through their karyotypes and/or morphology. We obtained data for 75 localities (34 at the rigth margin, 42 at the left margin; 30 in the Cerrado and 45 in the Atlantic Forest). We obtained voucher records for 91 species, ca. 17% of all known Brazilian terrestrial non-volant mammals. Our results include range extensions for six species (Monodelphis scalops, Thylamys velutinus, Calomys mattevii, Wiedomys pyrrhorhinos, Galea spixii, Kerodon rupestris), and karyotype information for 26 species (11 marsupials and 15 rodents), with four new karyotypes. While most species have wide geographical range in both biomes, 26 were recorded only in the Cerrado and 19 were recorded only in the Atlantic Forest. Recorded species represent 28.7% (6.3% endemic) of the species known from the Cerrado and 21.5% (22.2% endemic) of those from the Atlantic Forest. The richness of the fauna recorded in this region supports its importance for the understanding of mammal biogeography, diversity and evolution.

In Brazil, there are two published references on the diet of American kestrel falcons, Falco sparverius Linnaeus, 1758, and one is for the Cerrado biome. The only mammal prey so far found in the diet of F. sparverius was the rodent Calomys tener (Winge, 1887). Herein we report on daily hunting activities by American kestrel falcons at a factory in the city of Uberlândia, state of Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil, during an attempt to remove a bat colony. Two American kestrel falcons were observed on 14 occasions during two consecutive days: in two of these occasions, they were hunting in pairs, from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. on 06/X/2003, and from 07:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on 07/X/2003. During this period, American kestrel falcons made 27 hunting attempts and captured four bats of the same species, Nyctinomops laticaudatus (E. Geoffroy St.-Hilaire, 1805) (14.81% success). This report corroborates observations made in the Northern hemisphere, where bats are a dietary item of this falcon. Our findings are noteworthy because they reveal that the known natural predators of bats are few not only in Brazil but also worldwide.