File(s) under permanent embargo
Extension of the diet of an extreme foraging specialist, the aardwolf (Proteles cristata)
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-17, 06:18 authored by de Vries, JL, Pirk, CWW, Bateman, PW, Elissa Cameron, Dalerum, FThe aardwolf, Proteles cristata, is a highly specialized myrmecophagous carnivore that feeds almost exclusively on termites of the genus Trinervitermes. Here we report data from an ongoing analysis of aardwolf diet, where we documented remains of sun spiders and scorpions in aardwolf scats. Although the prevalence of these items was low, with sun spiders recorded in nine and scorpion remains in one of 246 scats, our observations suggest that aardwolves opportunistically feed on larger prey than previously thought. However, our observations do not suggest that aardwolves utilized these large prey items as alternatives to their main food resource during periods of food scarcity. Therefore, we suggest that the adaptive advantages of such opportunism may be small, but that the observed behavioural plasticity could be advantageous under specific environmental conditions and therefore is maintained as a behavioural trait.
History
Publication title
African ZoologyVolume
46Pagination
194-196ISSN
1562-7020Department/School
School of Natural SciencesPublisher
Zoological Soc Southern AfricaPlace of publication
Grahamstown, 6140 South AfricaRights statement
© Copyright 2011, The Zoological Society of Southern Africa.Repository Status
- Restricted