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Asian Journal of Applied Sciences

Year: 2011 | Volume: 4 | Issue: 7 | Page No.: 735-740
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Authors

Mohammed Yaba

Tariku Mekonnen

Afework Bekele

James Malcolm

Keywords

Research Article

Food Selection and Feeding Behavior of Giant Mole Rat (Tachyoryctes macrocephalus, Ruppell, 1842) from the Sanetti Plateau of Bale Mountains National Park, Ethiopia

Mohammed Yaba, Tariku Mekonnen, Afework Bekele and James Malcolm
The giant mole rat (Tachyorycytes macrocephalus) is one of the endemic mammals of Ethiopia and the diet of endemic and endangered Ethiopian wolf (Canis simensis). The study was carried out from March, 2006 to January, 2007. Hay pile analysis, Direct observation, fecal analysis and stomach content analysis methods were used. The consumed plant materials and hay pile components from ten samples indicated that Alchemilla abyssinica and Festuca species were the major food items in terms of percentage frequency and dietary occurrence. Stomach contents from four animals and ten faecal samples showed higher percentage of dicots than monocots (χ2 = 23.8, df = 1, p< 0.01). In addition, different species of dicots were also consumed. Although there was a preference of occurrence, all plant materials surrounding the feeding holes were gathered. A large proportion (75.6%) of time was spent under the ground compared to above ground activities. Among the above ground activities of the giant mole rat, feeding takes larger time compared to time spent for observation and digging.
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How to cite this article

Mohammed Yaba, Tariku Mekonnen, Afework Bekele and James Malcolm, 2011. Food Selection and Feeding Behavior of Giant Mole Rat (Tachyoryctes macrocephalus, Ruppell, 1842) from the Sanetti Plateau of Bale Mountains National Park, Ethiopia. Asian Journal of Applied Sciences, 4: 735-740.

DOI: 10.3923/ajaps.2011.735.740

URL: https://scialert.net/abstract/?doi=ajaps.2011.735.740

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