IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Walker, R.S.; Novaro, A.J.; Perovic, P.; Palacios, R.; Donadio, E.; Lucherini, M.; Pia, M.; Soledad Ląpez, M. | |
| Diets of three species of Andean carnivores in high-altitude deserts of Argentina | |
| 2007 Journal of Mammalogy (88): 519-525 | |
We present the 1st data on the diet of the Andean mountain cat (_Leopardus jacobitus_), and the 1st on the colocolo (_Leopardus colocolo_) and the culpeo (_Lycalopex culpaeus_) in high-altitude deserts of northern Argentina, based on fecal analysis. Feces of Andean mountain cats and colocolos were distinguished by DNA analysis. The Andean mountain cat (n = 57) was the most specialized, relying heavily on southern mountain vizcachas (_Lagidium viscacia_). The colocolo (n = 504) also was specialized, consuming mostly cricetine rodents and tucotucos (_Ctenomys_). The culpeo (n = 399) was a generalist, consuming all prey items that the cats used, and a greater variety of invertebrates. Short-tailed chinchillas (_Chinchilla chinchilla_) were found in 3 culpeo feces, indicating that this rodent, considered extinct in Argentina, is still present in the wild. Both southern mountain vizcachas and tuco-tucos have a patchy distribution, indicating that very large areas may be required to support populations of the cats that depend on these prey species. |
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