Faunal component in the diet of lion-tailed macaques

Abstract

The paper reports the information on the faunal component in the diet of wild lion-tailed macaques. The faunal component accounts for about 19 per cent of the total diet. There is more intake of faunal items during the dry months from December to May when fruit availability is low, as compared to the wet months from June to November. The faunal intake at different times of the day and by different age-sex classes does not differ. Invertebrates constitute the largest portion of the faunal diet. The smaller animals are captured and eaten by all age-sex classes, whereas the larger vertebrates are usually caught and eaten by adult animals, especially males. The method of capturing the prey and the parts of the body eaten are reported.