OBSERVATIONS ON NEONATAL-MORTALITY OF THE CHACOAN PECCARY, CATAGONUS-WAGNERI

The considerable neonatal mortality of a captive population of Chacoan peccaries, the tagua (Catagonus wagneri), in Paraguay was investigate d with the examination of six newborn animals and one adult. Most deat hs occur primarily because of restriction of space resulting in compet ition for space and nutrition. The adult had nonlethal inhalation pulm onary anthracosis. Neonatal pulmonary nocardiosis was noted in one inf ant and is believed to be related to the dust storms prevailing locall y. Another neonate had a duplication of the pelvis, rear extremities, and one ovary, representing a type of conjoined twin classified as isc hiopagus.