Iwuala M O, Braide E I, Maduka N
Rev Biol Trop. 1980 Dec;28(2):227-36.
Food habits of four common species of African rodents: the giant rat (Cricetomys gambianus), the black house rat (Rattus rattus), the multimammate rat (Mastomys natalensis) and the pygmy mouse (Mus minutoides) were studied on the basis of stomach content analysis, habitat sampling and experimental trials with caged animals. Vegetable items (especially grass, grains and tubers) formed the bulk of the food of all the species. Oil-palm nuts and kernels were also common in the guts of C. gambianus and M. natalensis. Animal food components of all the rodent species comprised mainly insects (especially ants, crickets etc.). Vertebrate flesh and scales were also well represented in the guts of C. gambianus. Domestic and miscellaneous food items were recorded from R. rattus, most of which were trapped in human and animal shelters. Inorganic gut contents, primarily sand grains, were found in sizeable quantities in more than 70% of the rodents examined. Results of experimental feeding trials with caged rodents showed close correlation with those recorded from field samples, especially in terms of food choices and the relative quantities consumed. The ecological and practical implications of these observations are discussed in the light of the importance of the rodents as agricultural and domestic pests.
基于胃内容物分析、栖息地采样以及对笼养动物的实验性试验，对四种常见非洲啮齿动物的食性进行了研究，这四种动物分别是巨鼠（冈比亚囊鼠，Cricetomys gambianus）、黑家鼠（褐家鼠，Rattus rattus）、多乳鼠（南非多乳鼠，Mastomys natalensis）和侏儒鼠（小拟家鼠，Mus minutoides）。植物类食物（尤其是草、谷物和块茎）构成了所有物种食物的大部分。油棕坚果和果仁在冈比亚囊鼠和南非多乳鼠的肠道中也很常见。所有啮齿动物物种的动物性食物成分主要包括昆虫（尤其是蚂蚁、蟋蟀等）。脊椎动物的肉和鳞片在冈比亚囊鼠的肠道中也有较多出现。在褐家鼠的胃中记录到了家庭食物和其他各类食物，其中大部分是在人类和动物住所捕获的。在超过70%的被检查啮齿动物中发现了大量的无机肠道内容物，主要是沙粒。对笼养啮齿动物进行的实验性喂食试验结果与实地样本记录的结果密切相关，特别是在食物选择和消耗的相对数量方面。鉴于这些啮齿动物作为农业和家庭害虫的重要性，讨论了这些观察结果的生态和实际意义。
