Study on the diet and feeding preferences of Calomys venustus (Rodentia, Muridae).

CASTELLARINI, F.; AGNELLI, H.; POLOP, J.

MASTOZOOLOGíA NEOTROPICAL

Sociedad Argentina para el Estudio de lo Mamíferos

Lugar: Mendoza, Argentina; Año: 1998 vol. 5 p. 5 - 11

0327-9383

The aim of this work was to determine the diet and feeding preferentes of Calomys venustus. Relative food availability was determined through seasonal vegetation censuses and the species present were recorded. Microhistological análisis of the stomach contents was used for the determiantion of the seasonal diet. A cafeteria test was used to study laboratory feeding preferences. It was determined that C. venustus is omnivorous, showing a tendency to folivory in spring and autumn and to granivory in summer. Furthermore, significant differences between the relative composition of leaves, seeds and arthropods in each season were observed. C. venustus did not consume tose leaves that were abundant in the habitat, or they consumed them in low proportions and showed a high preferente for seed consumption under conditions of equal availability.