FOOD PREFERENCE AND CALORIFIC REQUIREMENTS OF THE CUTCH ROCK-RAT, CREMNOMYS CUTCHICUS MEDIUS

The Cutch rock rat, Cremnomys cutchicus, inhabits rocky outcrops in th e Thar desert and has been found to be the most abundant small mammal on the Aravalli mountains in India. Due to the recent increase in irri gated agriculture ill tilt: valleys, it has altered its niche from roc k-crevices to the vicinity of crop fields and damages the standing cro ps. To control its population below tile threshold level, experiments were carried out in laboratory cages to determine its preferred food w hich can be used for poison formulations. Pearl millet in whole form, and green gram in cracked form were the best ranked foods when they we re given in no choice test. Among six exposed foods, no statistically significant difference was evidenced in whole and cracked forms of sor ghum (t=1.09) and wheat (t=2.24), while a significantly increased cons umption of cracked forms was observed in green grant (P < 0.001) and b engal gram (P < 0.001). The consumption decreased significantly in cra cked pearl millet (P < 0.001). The average daily intake of food and ca loric requirement (18 to 39 kcal) of this muried rodent is highest amo ng the species in the region, probably because it inhabits difficult r ocky terrain and needs much mon energy while ascending and descending rocky slopes. Based on food preference studies, it is recommended that single food item should be used as bait material, and that too, durin g October to January, for the effective control of this species.