Open AccessFeeding Ecology and Seasonal Changes in Food Habits of African Civet In Aridtsy (Civettictis civetta, Schreber, 1776) Forest, Western Ethiopia
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
indian journal of ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.236
H-Index - 7
ISSN - 0304-5250
DOI - 10.55362/ije/2022/3482
Subject(s) - dry season , biology , food habits , wet season , ficus , ecology , predation , animal food , zoology , botany , medicine , environmental health , food science
The feeding ecology of the African Civet was investigated in the Aridstey forest Awi zone, Amhara region of Ethiopia during August 2017January 2018. Food items were identified by the naked eye and unidentifiable food items of plants and animal matters were identified by using microscope. During the present investigation, 17 food items were identified from the fresh droppings of the African Civets. Out of these, the main animal feed items identified were insects, millipedes/centipedes. , sp. and were main plant items Cordia Africana Ficus Zea maysrecorded. Feeding habits of civets change with season and on the availability of food. During the dry season, African Civets eat Cordia Africana and sp., in high proportion. During the wet season, millipedes/centipedes and insects largely contributed for food. During both this Ficusseasons, insects, rodents and grasses were commonly observed as food items of civets. The scent markings were the height of 32-39 cm above the ground and the civets scent marked mostly on ., and .