Assessment of Feeding Behavior of the Zoo-Housed Lesser Anteater (<i>Tamandua tetradactyla</i>) and Nutritional Values of Natural Prey
Very little information is available to zoo managers on the nutritional preferences of the lesser anteater, a highly specialized predator. By studying lesser anteater feeding behavior, we expect to contribute to improved management decisions and individual welfare experiences. We studied the respons...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-5636/3/1/2 |
| _version_ | 1797446258627969024 |
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| author | Valentín Zárate Jesica R. Mufari Lucía G. Abalos Luna Daniel P. Villarreal Juan M. Busso |
| author_facet | Valentín Zárate Jesica R. Mufari Lucía G. Abalos Luna Daniel P. Villarreal Juan M. Busso |
| author_sort | Valentín Zárate |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Very little information is available to zoo managers on the nutritional preferences of the lesser anteater, a highly specialized predator. By studying lesser anteater feeding behavior, we expect to contribute to improved management decisions and individual welfare experiences. We studied the response of zoo-housed lesser anteaters (<i>n</i> = 7) to feeders with live ants (<i>Acromyrmex lundi</i>) and termites (<i>Cortaritermes fulviceps</i>), and we also evaluated the nutritional values of these prey. We individually evaluated each lesser anteater (3 sessions), recording activities by camera. We ground insect samples into a coarse meal and evaluated in vitro biochemical parameters (humidity, lipids proteins, ash, and carbohydrates). Lesser anteaters spent more time with termites than with ants and consumed more termites. Ant meal presented a higher protein and lipid content than termite meal (35.28 ± 0.18% vs. 18.19 ± 0.34% and 16.95 ± 0.13% vs. 6.54 ± 0.31%, respectively), and carbohydrate digestibility was higher in termites. These findings indicate an association between the level of insect consumption and nutritional and digestibility values. This is the first exploration of lesser anteater responses to the presence of social insects in feeders and may serve to guide the study of food preferences in captivity. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T13:37:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-03cd61ab36f241ed823fb9852541ebc6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2673-5636 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T13:37:44Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens |
| spelling | doaj.art-03cd61ab36f241ed823fb9852541ebc62023-11-30T21:09:58ZengMDPI AGJournal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens2673-56362022-01-0131193110.3390/jzbg3010002Assessment of Feeding Behavior of the Zoo-Housed Lesser Anteater (<i>Tamandua tetradactyla</i>) and Nutritional Values of Natural PreyValentín Zárate0Jesica R. Mufari1Lucía G. Abalos Luna2Daniel P. Villarreal3Juan M. Busso4Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología de los Alimentos, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales (FCEFyN)—Universidad Nacional de Córdoba (UNC), Av. Vélez Sarsfield 1611, Córdoba X5016GCA, ArgentinaInstituto de Ciencia y Tecnología de los Alimentos, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales (FCEFyN)—Universidad Nacional de Córdoba (UNC), Av. Vélez Sarsfield 1611, Córdoba X5016GCA, ArgentinaCarrera de Veterinaria, Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad Católica de Córdoba, Av. Armada Argentina 3555, Córdoba X5016DHK, ArgentinaParque de la Biodiversidad (ex Jardín Zoológico Córdoba), Rondeau 798, Córdoba X5000AVP, ArgentinaInstituto de Ciencia y Tecnología de los Alimentos, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales (FCEFyN)—Universidad Nacional de Córdoba (UNC), Av. Vélez Sarsfield 1611, Córdoba X5016GCA, ArgentinaVery little information is available to zoo managers on the nutritional preferences of the lesser anteater, a highly specialized predator. By studying lesser anteater feeding behavior, we expect to contribute to improved management decisions and individual welfare experiences. We studied the response of zoo-housed lesser anteaters (<i>n</i> = 7) to feeders with live ants (<i>Acromyrmex lundi</i>) and termites (<i>Cortaritermes fulviceps</i>), and we also evaluated the nutritional values of these prey. We individually evaluated each lesser anteater (3 sessions), recording activities by camera. We ground insect samples into a coarse meal and evaluated in vitro biochemical parameters (humidity, lipids proteins, ash, and carbohydrates). Lesser anteaters spent more time with termites than with ants and consumed more termites. Ant meal presented a higher protein and lipid content than termite meal (35.28 ± 0.18% vs. 18.19 ± 0.34% and 16.95 ± 0.13% vs. 6.54 ± 0.31%, respectively), and carbohydrate digestibility was higher in termites. These findings indicate an association between the level of insect consumption and nutritional and digestibility values. This is the first exploration of lesser anteater responses to the presence of social insects in feeders and may serve to guide the study of food preferences in captivity.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-5636/3/1/2xenarthramymercophagidaedietlive feedinsectivorousanimal welfare |
| spellingShingle | Valentín Zárate Jesica R. Mufari Lucía G. Abalos Luna Daniel P. Villarreal Juan M. Busso Assessment of Feeding Behavior of the Zoo-Housed Lesser Anteater (<i>Tamandua tetradactyla</i>) and Nutritional Values of Natural Prey Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens xenarthra mymercophagidae diet live feed insectivorous animal welfare |
| title | Assessment of Feeding Behavior of the Zoo-Housed Lesser Anteater (<i>Tamandua tetradactyla</i>) and Nutritional Values of Natural Prey |
| title_full | Assessment of Feeding Behavior of the Zoo-Housed Lesser Anteater (<i>Tamandua tetradactyla</i>) and Nutritional Values of Natural Prey |
| title_fullStr | Assessment of Feeding Behavior of the Zoo-Housed Lesser Anteater (<i>Tamandua tetradactyla</i>) and Nutritional Values of Natural Prey |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessment of Feeding Behavior of the Zoo-Housed Lesser Anteater (<i>Tamandua tetradactyla</i>) and Nutritional Values of Natural Prey |
| title_short | Assessment of Feeding Behavior of the Zoo-Housed Lesser Anteater (<i>Tamandua tetradactyla</i>) and Nutritional Values of Natural Prey |
| title_sort | assessment of feeding behavior of the zoo housed lesser anteater i tamandua tetradactyla i and nutritional values of natural prey |
| topic | xenarthra mymercophagidae diet live feed insectivorous animal welfare |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-5636/3/1/2 |
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