Step by step

Abstract

As of this issue, Mammalia aequatorialis, The Ecuadorian Journal of Mammalogy becomes a biannual journal. This was one of our first objectives when we created this publication. Thanks to the growing support of authors who are publishing their contributions, we have achieved it.

Mammalia aequatorialis was born as a space to disseminate Ecuadorian mammalogy; however, as we went along, we accepted articles for publication with broader information from anywhere in the region. Thus, this issue includes the first papers generated by colleagues from other countries.

In this issue, we present a review and catalog of one of the oldest and least known mammal collections in the country: the Laboratorio-Museo de Zoología Gustavo Orcés at the Universidad Central del Ecuador, in Quito. This collection includes probably the two oldest specimens in any Ecuadorian collection, both exotic species that would have arrived in Ecuador in the second half of the 19^th century: Tachyglossus aculeatus (Monotremata, echidna) and Manis pentadactyla (Pholidota; pangolin). This article also includes taxonomic comments and notable records of two rodent species: Nephelomys nimbosus (Cricetidae) and Cuniculus taczanowskii (Cuniculidae).

In terms of general contributions on the diversity of mammals that comment on issues related to their conservation, we present two studies, one on the Petrified Forest of Puyango in southern Ecuador, and another on the Portobelo National Park and Colon Biological Corridor, in Panama.

Other notable articles in this issue are an analysis of the cranial allometry of common vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus) in the province of Napo, Ecuador, and a protocol for the study of mammalian excreta and guano, with a case study from Colombia.

Among the scientific notes, we include four papers from different localities of Ecuador; one documents the records of melanism of a species of squirrel (Simosciurus nebouxii) in the province of Loja, and another presents the observation of an Andean Bear swimming in a paramo lagoon in Píntag, Pichincha.

In addition, we present reports that expand the distribution of two mammal species in Ecuador: the first report of Sechuran Fox (Lycalopex sechurae) in a montane forest area in southeastern Loja Province, and the first report of Pink River DoIphin (Inia geoffrensis) in the Morona River, Morona Santiago.

Step by step, we continue to grow. We have already turned Mammalia aequatorialis into a biannual journal, a challenge achieved. We hope to continue to grow and bring new contributions to the knowledge of Neotropical mammals, especially from Ecuador.

Thank you for being with us,

Diego G. Tirira
Editor-in-chief