Original Research

Differential passage rates of prey components through the gut of serval Felis serval and black-backed jackal Canis mesomelas

J.M. Bowland, A.E. Rowland
Koedoe | Vol 34, No 1 | a412 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/koedoe.v34i1.412 | © 1991 J.M. Bowland, A.E. Rowland | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 22 September 1991 | Published: 23 September 1991

About the author(s)

J.M. Bowland, University of Natal, South Africa
A.E. Rowland, University of Natal, South Africa

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Abstract

Feeding trials conducted on Felis serval and Canis mesomelas showed that the same prey item may appear in up to seven scats (mean=2.8, n=7). The basic assumption that prey remains of the same species in different scats represent different individuals is invalid. Therefore over-estimation of some prey species relative to others in the diet of carnivores studied can occur.

Keywords

serval, black-backed jackal, carnivores, faecal analysis.

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Crossref Citations

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