Food and foraging behaviour of bat-eared foxes in the south-eastern Orange Free State
Date
1990
Authors
Nel J.A.J.
Mackie A.J.
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Abstract
Otocyon megalotis feed on a wide variety of insect taxa and other prey items. Harvester termites Hodotermes mossambicus form a major component of the prey, and increase in importance during winter. Individual foxes consume 1.15 × 106 termites/yr. Taking into account mean group size and home range size, 40 500 termites/ha/yr are eaten by foxes. When feeding on termites, concentrated in patches, bat-eared foxes feed c70% of their foraging time, as against feeding 4% of their foraging time when eating singly occurring prey. -from Authors
Description
Keywords
bat-eared fox, foraging behaviour, fox, termite, South Africa, Orange Free State
Citation
South African Journal of Wildlife Research
20
4
20
4