Mammals of Guapilo Urban Park, a suburban environment in the city of Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia

Abstract

Urban green spaces, although traditionally not regarded as biodiversity hotspots, can harbor a remarkable diversity of wildlife, as exemplified by Guapilo Urban Park (Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia). This study presents the first preliminary inventory of mammals in the area, documenting a total of 15 species belonging to six orders. Most of the recorded species are categorized as “Least Concern” according to the IUCN, except for Lontra longicaudis, listed as “Near Threatened.” The species documented include semi-aquatic, terrestrial, arboreal, and aerial taxa, recorded through direct observations, camera traps, and complementary information obtained from local interviews. These results highlight the park’s ecological importance as a refuge for diverse functional groups of mammals within an urban environment characterized by seasonal hydrological fluctuations. Despite ongoing anthropogenic pressures, Guapilo Urban Park represents a distinctive enclave of biodiversity within the urban landscape of Santa Cruz de la Sierra.