Diet of the endangered Tehuantepec jackrabbit, Lepus flavigularis

Authors

  • Consuelo Lorenzo Departamento de Ecología y Sistemática Terrestres, El Colegio de la Frontera Sur. Carretera Panamericana y Periférico Sur s/n. San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chiapas. México CP 29290.
  • Arturo Carrillo-Reyes Departamento de Ecología y Sistemática Terrestres, El Colegio de la Frontera Sur. Carretera Panamericana y Periférico Sur s/n. San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chiapas. México CP 29290.
  • Maricela Gómez-Sánchez 2Facultad de Ciencias Naturales. Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro. Avenida de Las Ciencias s/n, Juriquilla,Quetaro, Querétaro. CP 76230.
  • Azucena Velázquez Departamento de Ecología y Sistemática Terrestres, El Colegio de la Frontera Sur. Carretera Panamericana y Periférico Sur s/n. San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chiapas. México CP 29290.
  • Eduardo Espinoza Universidad de Ciencias y Artes de Chiapas. Libramiento Norte Poniente s/n, Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas, CP 29039.

Keywords:

food habits, faecal analysis, microhistological techniques, Lepus flavigularis

Abstract

The diet of the endangered Tehuantepec jackrabbit, Lepus flavigularis, was studied during the dry and rainy seasons in 2007, in a lowland area in the southeastern Oaxaca, Mexico. Faecal pellets of L. flavigularis were collected at regular intervals from four selected sites. Microhistological techniques were employed to analyze the pellets. The epidermal fragments were identified by comparison with a reference collection of plant species. Grass species occurred in high percentage in all samples of faecal pellets (66.7%). The diet of the Tehuantepec jackrabbit is rich in species (18 species in total) and is similar in number and proportion of species consumed during dry and rainy season. This study provides the first results on the Tehuantepec jackrabbit diet. The strategies of conservation of the Tehuantepec jackrabbit and their habitat must consider activities such as the control of fires and a suitable grassland management that does not reduce plant diversity.

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Published

2011-04-30

Issue

Vol. 2 No. 1 (2011)

Section

Articles

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