Feeding habits of the squirrel Sciurus variegatoides (Rodentia: Sciuridae) in the Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica

 

Salvato in:
Dettagli Bibliografici
Autori: Monge, Javier, Hilje, Luko
Natura: artículo original
Status:Versión publicada
Data di pubblicazione:2006
Descrizione:Food items consumed by the squirrel Sciurus variegatoides atrirufus were determi- ned in an agricultural setting in the Nicoya Península (9o47’ N, 84o56’ W), Costa Rica, where two life zones (Premontane Moist Forest Basal Belt Transition, and Tropical Dry Forest) predominate. By analyzing the gut contents of 120 squirrels, from February 1987 through January 1988, it was determined that coconut (Cocos nucifera), indian almond (Terminalia catappa) and flamboyant (Delonix regia) were the most common dietary items. There were differences in food consumption according to age: adults preferred coconut, whereas young individuals preferred almond. This finding can be explained in terms of fruit characteristics, as well as tree architecture and accessibility for squirrels; almendro trees provide higher protection and a more accessible food resource, so that it was better used by young individuals.
Stato:Portal de Revistas UCR
Istituzione:Universidad de Costa Rica
Repositorio:Portal de Revistas UCR
Lingua:Español
OAI Identifier:oai:portal.ucr.ac.cr:article/14113
Accesso online:https://revistas.ucr.ac.cr/index.php/rbt/article/view/14113
Keyword:ardilla
sciurus variegatoides atrirufus
hábitos alimenticios
costa rica
squirrel
food habits