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Naz R, Kayani AR, Nadeem MS, Mushtaq M, Qayyum M. Food habits of the Indian bush rat ( Golunda ellioti Gray, 1837) in Pothwar region, Pakistan. MAMMALIA 2020. [DOI: 10.1515/mammalia-2019-0103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
The Indian bush rat, Golunda ellioti, is indigenous to the Indo-Pak subcontinent. Food habits of this bush rat were investigated using its stomach and fecal contents. Trapping was conducted every month from November 2013 to February 2016. This over 28 months generated a total of 2520 trapping nights. Sample slides from 82 stomach and 10 fecal samples were compared with the reference slides. Field observations along with feeding the Indian bush rat in captivity revealed that it preferably fed on 27 species of grasses with Digitaria sanguinalis [frequency of occurrence (FO) = 13.5%] being the most abundant one followed by Pennisetum orientale (FO = 8.5%). However, the Berger-Parker index revealed that D. sanguinalis (d = 0.148) was followed by Triticum aestivum (d = 0.145). Along with that, they also consumed tillers and seeds of wheat, gram seeds and young leaves of mustard. Considering the climatic changes, its success in adapting to the arid regions and dependence on grasses for food and cover may favor this species in future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruqqya Naz
- Department of Zoology , PMAS-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi , Punjab 46300 , Pakistan
| | - Amjad Rashid Kayani
- Department of Zoology , PMAS-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi , Punjab 46300 , Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Sajid Nadeem
- Department of Zoology , PMAS-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi , Punjab 46300 , Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Mushtaq
- Department of Zoology , PMAS-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi , Punjab 46300 , Pakistan
| | - Mazhar Qayyum
- Department of Zoology , PMAS-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi , Punjab 46300 , Pakistan
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