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\textbf{INTRODUCTION}     Evaluating the abundance and distribution of terrestrial mammal communities is vital to promote efficient management plans and targeted conservation actions \cite{jenkins2013global}. Yet, we first need up-to-date, accurate and rigorously recorded data of the species present in an area to provide the basis of further analysis \cite{antos2014camera}. This is especially important for medium and large sized mammals inhabiting tropical forests, as they are excellent indicators of ecosystem health, present high levels of diversity, and yet they are highly threatened mainly by human activities such as hunting, natural resource extraction, expansion of the agricultural and cattle frontier, and habitat loss and fragmentation \cite{carrillo2000monitoring, schipper2008status, rodrigues2009boom}. \cite{carrillo2000monitoring,schipper2008status,rodrigues2009boom}.  The western lowlands of Ecuador compromise part of the Tumbes-Chocó-Magdalena hotspot \cite{myers2000biodiversity}, which presents the highest population growth rate within the world hostpots \cite{cincotta2000human}. An increase of the population size translates into an increase of the demand of goods, resources and infrastructure, which can potentially represent a major risk for the native flora and fauna of the region.   The most commonly used methods to study the mammals present in an area include line transects (direct and indirect observation), the use of traps and interviews \cite{plumptre2000monitoring, silveira2003camera,agostini2015population}. \cite{plumptre2000monitoring,silveira2003camera,agostini2015population}.  Yet, most of the time these methods are hard to replicate, standardize and are likely to present some degree of bias \cite{ahumada2013monitoring}. Camera traps provide an alternative tool for improving data recording of medium and large mammal species \cite{tobler2008evaluation}. Several factors have led to an increase of this method over the last decades, which include the opportunity to maximize encounter rate of mammals, especially the cryptic ones, they are relatively inexpensive, efficient and easy to provide the basis for a standardized methodology \cite{carbone2001use,tobler2008evaluation, rovero2009camera, ahumada2013monitoring}. \cite{carbone2001use,tobler2008evaluation,rovero2009camera,ahumada2013monitoring}.    Although Ecuador is among the most biologically diverse countries of the world \cite{myers2000biodiversity}, accurate data on the distribution and abundance of terrestrial mammals inhabiting the Pacific lowlands forests remains incomplete \cite{parker1992status}. An example is the Machalilla National Park, with more than 50,000 ha and only one mammal inventory report published, conducted in 1992 \cite{parker1992status}. Several factors account for the Machalilla NP uniqueness. First, it is one of the largest protected areas of the Ecuadorian coast, creating the opportunity of protecting a large area of highly threatened habitats. Second, it presents high levels of flora and fauna abundance and endemism \cite{Linares_Palomino_2009,aguirre2006especies,espinosa2012bosques}. In 1998, Zambrano and Vargas registered 150 endemic plant species in the area. And more recent reports,…(VIOLETA) The literature reports 81 mammal species registered, 69 of them terrestrial, yet this numbers come from a study conducted XXX more than XXX years ago. The high diversity present in the area and the vast threats the species are facing, make this region an ideal location to apply standardized methods to collect information on the mammal communities and their adaptation to human modified landscapes.