Scientists Identify Latrines Used by Mammals in Ficus tuerckheimii Trees in Tropical Forests

Scientists have identified communal latrines used by mammals exclusively in Ficus tuerckheimii trees, a keystone species in tropical forests. A survey of 169 trees across 29 species found 11 latrines, all located in Ficus tuerckheimii, with 73 percent of these trees hosting at least one latrine.

Jeremy Quirós-Navarro discovered piles of scat concentrated at the junctions of large branches in these trees, where flat platforms up to a meter across provide suitable spots for defecation.

The platforms, formed where branches join, are filled with soil and small plants and serve as latrines for a variety of mammals. Researchers installed a camera trap at one latrine, which recorded about three mammal visits per day over two months, capturing 17 different species. The most frequent visitors were Mexican hairy dwarf porcupines (Coendou mexicanus).

Other recorded visitors included kinkajous, opossums, pocket mice, coatis, capuchin monkeys, and margays, the latter observed spraying urine. Hoffmann's two-toed sloths were also recorded twice, both times a female with young. Jeremy Quirós-Navarro noted the latrines' distinctive structure, describing it as "like a hand at the crown" of the tree.

" He also explained that defecating in the tree is safer for mammals than on the ground, reducing risk. Ficus tuerckheimii plays multiple roles in tropical forests, providing food, shelter, and travel routes within the canopy. The discovery of latrines adds a new ecological function to this keystone species, which supports at least 17 mammal species that use it for feeding, shelter, movement, and waste deposition.

Erik Hom, who studies symbiosis at the University of Mississippi, was mentioned in the context of this research, though no direct statements were provided.