Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 15, 2026

Behavioral Tracking and Neuromast Imaging of Mexican Cavefish
Published on: April 6, 2019
A forest-specialist carnivore in the middle of the desert?Comments on
Darío Moreira-Arce1, Eduardo A Silva-Rodríguez2, Constanza Napolitano3,4
1Laboratorio de Estudios del Antropoceno Facultad de Ciencias Forestales Universidad de Concepción Concepción Chile.
Abstract:
We present comments on an article recently published in Ecology and Evolution ("High-resolution melting of the cytochrome B gene in fecal DNA: A powerful approach for fox species identification of the Lycalopex genus in Chile") by Anabalon et al. that reported the presence of Darwin's fox (Lycalopex fulvipes), a temperate forest specialist, in the hyperarid Atacama Desert of northern Chile. We argue that this putative record lacks ecological support in light of ongoing research on this endangered species, and contains numerous methodological flaws and omissions related to the molecular identification of the species. Based on these issues, we suggest the scientific community and conservation decision-makers disregard the alleged presence of the Darwin's fox in the Atacama Desert.
Related Concept Videos
Predator-Prey Interactions
Ecological Niches
Microbial Interactions: Predation
Epiphytes, Parasites, and Carnivores
Optimal Foraging
Habitat Fragmentation

