Use of artificial nest boxes by two species of small, arboreal mammals in Ecuadorian tropical dry forest

We record, for the first time, the nest structure of two species of small, non-volant mammals, Marmosa simonsi and Rhipidomys latinamus, inside artificial nest boxes in a dry forest ecosystem of Western Ecuador. We describe the nests and categorized them as rearing nest, permanent resting nest and transient refuge, depending on their intended use. Artificial nest boxes provide an optimal place for pup rearing and resting for small mammals, and they can be useful for ecological studies of elusive, poorly-known mammalian species.

Automated summary

In this study, we document the nest structure of Marmosa simonsi and Rhipidomys latinamus, two non-volant mammals, inside artificial nest boxes in a dry forest ecosystem in Western Ecuador for the first time. The nests are categorized into rearing nests, permanent resting nests, and transient refuges based on their intended use. Artificial nest boxes prove to be an optimal place for pup rearing and resting for small mammals, and they are valuable tools for ecological studies of elusive and poorly-known mammalian species.