BLOOD VALUES OF FREE-LIVING SOUTHERN MANED SLOTHS (BRADYPUS CRINITUS): FIRST RECORD

There are now two species of maned sloths threatened by extinction in Brazil, and they inhabit severely fragmented areas: Bradypus torquatus, in the states of Sergipe and Bahia, and Bradypus crinitus, in Rio de Janeiro and Espírito Santo. Because of these species' arboreal nature, it is difficult to find sloths in the forest and complex techniques must be used to capture them. In addition, the specific morphological and physiological characteristics of these species are seldom studied. There are several studies on the physiology and health of other species of the genus Bradypus, but there is a lack of scientific data related to the health of both B. torquatus and B. crinitus. Given the importance of blood tests for the assessment of animal health status of individuals and populations, this study presents the first hematological and biochemical values of the recently discovered species B. crinitus. In total, 19 clinically healthy maned sloths were captured and assessed (19 in total, maximum of 28 samples due to recaptures) for total leukocyte count, differential leukocyte count, RBC count, Hct, total solids, urea, creatinine, alkaline phosphatase, and alanine aminotransferase. These hematological and biochemistry values may help in assessing the health of free-living southern maned sloths.