Digestive strategy of the south-east African lesser bushbaby, Galago moholi

Caton, Judith; Lawes, Michael J.; Cunningham, Clare L.

doi:10.1016/s1095-6433(00)00229-4

Cited by 58 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…These authors indicated that it was doubtful whether survival was possible without access to gum. However, both gum and arthropod exoskeletons contain polysaccharides, which can only be used as a source of energy through microbial fermentation [Caton et al, 2000]. Fermentation is slower than catalytic digestion by enzymes, which can potentially limit energy availability.…”

Section: Discovered Formentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Fermentation is slower than catalytic digestion by enzymes, which can potentially limit energy availability. Caton et al [2000] described the digestive mechanism involving catalysis in the small intestine and fermentation in the hindgut, thus enabling lesser bushbabies to survive on the apparently poor-quality diet despite their small body sizes. However, Bearder and Martin [1980] reported incidents during a particularly harsh winter when lesser bushbabies experienced extensive weight loss, high mortality and loss of portions of the tails as a result of frostbite, suggesting that the animals may not obtain adequate caloric intake from gum to meet their thermoregulatory requirements during severe winters.…”

Section: Discovered Formentioning

confidence: 99%

“…200 g), is a nocturnal savannah woodland species and in South Africa is usually associated with Acacia and mopane bushveld [Skinner and Smithers, 1990]. Lesser bushbabies subsist mainly on the gum that exudes from certain species of Acacia, a diet frequently augmented by insects [Skinner and Smithers, 1990;Caton et al, 2000]. Their feeding habits, phylogenetic position, body size and zoogeographical location render them excellent candidate employers of heterothermy.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Lack of Torpor in Free-Ranging Southern Lesser Galagos, Galago moholi: Ecological and Physiological Considerations

Mzilikazi¹,

Masters²,

Lovegrove³

2006

IJFP

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Studies investigating heterothermy under natural conditions are particularly scarce for tropical species. However, heterothermy patterns in tropical and subtropical environments often differ markedly from those observed in arctic and temperate species. The investigation of heterothermy in strepsirhine primates has focussed largely on the Malagasy cheirogaleids. In addition, a physiological verification of torpor occurrence in mainland strepsirhines is important with regard to arguments pertaining to the colonization of Madagascar by strepsirhine primates. We measured body temperatures of 11 free-ranging Galago moholi, between February 2002 and September 2003, for 3 consecutive months for each animal. No incidents of heterothermy were recorded throughout the study period. We considered how physiological and ecological aspects of G. moholi biology might have obviated the use of torpor. It was suggested that the breeding pattern observed in G. moholi prevented torpor use whilst increasing fecundity, and that the ecological costs of torpor far outweighed the energetic costs. This study highlights the need for more studies on free-ranging animals to elucidate the physiological, ecological and phylogenetic constraints and determinants of torpor use. Furthermore, if convincing arguments are to be made regarding the possible role of heterothermy in species dispersal, more data from free-ranging animals are needed.

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Section: Discovered Formentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discovered Formentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Lack of Torpor in Free-Ranging Southern Lesser Galagos, Galago moholi: Ecological and Physiological Considerations

Mzilikazi¹,

Masters²,

Lovegrove³

2006

IJFP

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…moholi can selectively increase its gut retention time of gum, and thus the level of nutrient absorption, through the specialized ansa coli and elongated caecum (Caton et al 2000).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To successfully digest the high amounts of β-polysaccharides found in both food sources, G. moholi has a specialized digestive tract, in which food matter retention allows for additional microbial fermentation (Caton et al 2000). We studied the food sources utilised by G. moholi in a highly-fragmented habitat in the southernmost part of its distributional range in South Africa.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spicing up the menu: evidence of fruit feeding in Galago moholi

et al. 2014

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The African lesser bushbaby, Galago moholi, is currently described as a food specialist, feeding exclusively on small arthropods and gum primarily from Acacia karroo trees. We studied a population of G. moholi in a highly-fragmented habitat in the southernmost part of its natural distributional range in South Africa. In this habitat we opportunistically observed bushbabies feeding on fruits of the winter fruiting tree, Pappea capensis. Plot counts of tree composition revealed that although the dominant tree species in the area belonged to the genus Acacia, A. karroo trees were widely absent and gum could only be found in small quantities on other Acacia species. The analysis of P. capensis fruits showed high levels of protein, fat and energy content, making the fruits a potentially important food source for G. moholi during winter when insect availability is low. Our observation is the first documented case of fruit-feeding in G. moholi, suggesting that the species is not a food specialist as previously reported, but can opportunistically supplement its diet with fruit when available.

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Use of total dietary fiber across four lemur species (Propithecus verreauxi coquereli, Hapalemur griseus griseus, Varecia variegata, and Eulemur fulvus): Does fiber type affect digestive efficiency?

Campbell

Williams

Eisemann

2004

American J Primatol

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In vivo digestibility and transit of two experimental diets were compared across four lemur species for which gastrointestinal morphology and preliminary data on physiology differ:Varecia variegata (VV), Eulemur fulvus (EF), Propithecus verreauxi (PV), and Hapalemur griseus (HG). Since free-ranging groups consume varied amounts of slowly fermentable insoluble fiber (IF) and rapidly fermentable soluble fiber (SF), differences in digestibility may be related to variation in the fiber types consumed. To investigate this, two diets were designed to provide 28% of dry matter (DM) as total dietary fiber (TDF). The ratio of IF/SF (g/g) differed across the diets (12.15:1 for the IF diet, and 3.76:1 for the IF/SF diet). The DM digestibility (DMD) of both diets differed across species: DMD was lower for EF and VV (approximately 56-58%), and higher for PV (72%) and HG (76%). The fiber digestibility results were as follows: TDF digestibility was similar for VV and EF (23% and 28%), higher for PV (56%), and highest for HG (66%). IF digestibility was lower for VV and EF (20% and 28%), and higher for PV and HG (53% and 62%). The transit times (TTs) of the two markers Cr and Co were similar (approximately 3.5 hr for VV and EF, 25 hr for PV, and 30 hr for HG). The mean retention times (MRTs) showed the same trend. The results from these captive groups suggest there are large differences in digestive efficiency that are likely related to the varied fiber composition of the free-ranging diet, and the amount of time the digesta are retained in the gut.

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Digestive strategy of the south-east African lesser bushbaby, Galago moholi

Cited by 58 publications

References 11 publications

Lack of Torpor in Free-Ranging Southern Lesser Galagos, Galago moholi: Ecological and Physiological Considerations

Lack of Torpor in Free-Ranging Southern Lesser Galagos, Galago moholi: Ecological and Physiological Considerations

Spicing up the menu: evidence of fruit feeding in Galago moholi

Use of total dietary fiber across four lemur species (Propithecus verreauxi coquereli, Hapalemur griseus griseus, Varecia variegata, and Eulemur fulvus): Does fiber type affect digestive efficiency?

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