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da Silva Oliveira, L.; Gomes Varjao, I.C.; Machado Pereira, L.C.; Nicola-Pereira, P.A.
First record of leucism in _Cerdocyon thous_ (Linnaeus, 1766) (Carnivora: Canidae) in Brazil
2019 Biotemas (32): 93-98
Polymorphic variations may act on chromatic alterations, which in excess cause hyperpigmentation (melanic individuals), and when deficient are responsible for hypopigmentation (albinism, leuctic or piebald individuals) and may be associated with ecological aspects, physiology and other biological processes. In Brazil, leucism has been observed in a few carnivorous species and may represent a sporadic event in this group of animals, since chromatic alterations of hypopigmentation can cause negative effects on individuals, such as increased vulnerability to predation. Nevertheless, an individual of _Cerdocyon thous_ with leucism was observed on the premises of the Campus of Agricultural Sciences of UNIVASF, a rural area of Petrolina, Pernambuco. When seen, the canidae exhibited the same behavioral characteristics as other normal specimens and led to adjacent areas with natural vegetation.
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