Abstract

CEOTTO, Paula; FINOTTI, Ricardo; SANTORI, Ricardo  and  CERQUEIRA, Rui. Diet variation of the marsupials Didelphys aurita and Philander frenatus (Didelphimorphia, Didelphidae) in a rural area of Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. Mastozool. neotrop. [online]. 2009, vol.16, n.1, pp.49-58. ISSN 0327-9383.

We studied the natural diet of two didelphid marsupial species, Didelphis aurita and Philander frenatus, at a rural area on southeastern Brazil, through fecal sample analysis. Data analysis included intraspecific comparisons (age, gender, and climatic seasons) and interespecific comparisons. Frequencies of food items were compared with other studies to analyze diet differences in a spatial scale. Invertebrates were the most frequent food category found in samples of both species, followed by fruits and vertebrates. There were no differences in the consumption of invertebrates, vertebrates and fruits between sexes in the two species, but both consumed more fruits in more humid months. Juveniles of P. frenatus consumed less vertebrates than adults or subadults. P. frenatus consumed more vertebrates than D. aurita, which exhibited a higher diversity of fruits in its diets. These differences represent an important factor in diminishing intraspecific competition. Among different localities, invertebrates are the more common items in the diet of both species, being a fundamental alimentary resource, whereas fruit consumption seems to be smaller in the areas where water is less available (areas with longer periods or higher hidric deficits), probably reflecting availability of this food resource.

Keywords : Didelphimorphia; Food habits; Mammal ecology; Neotropics.

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