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Sighting frequency and food habits of the leopard tortoise, Geochelone pardalis , in northern Tanzania
Author(s) -
Kabigumila J.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
african journal of ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.499
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1365-2028
pISSN - 0141-6707
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2028.2001.00316.x
Subject(s) - tanzania , tortoise , leopard , biology , ecology , leopard frog , forb , geography , zoology , grassland , amphibian , environmental planning
Sighting frequency and food habits of the leopard tortoise ( Geochelone pardalis ) were studied in northern Tanzania from October 1993 to June 1996. Sighting frequency varied significantly between protected (0.22 mhr −1 ) and unprotected sites (0.59 mhr −1 ), and between Arusha (0.27 mhr −1 ) and Serengeti sites (0.56 mhr −1 ). The tortoise diet comprised mostly plants (97.8%) and rarely inorganic matter (2.2%). A total of 47 plant species from 21 families was eaten. Forbs made up 74.5% of the plant items and monocots the remainder. Succulents contributed 51.0% of the plant items eaten while grasses and legumes accounted for 16.8% and 13.5%, respectively. Some plant items were eaten more frequently than their occurrence in the habitats.