Foraging behaviour of the Cape Pangolin Manis Temminckii in the Sabi Sand Wildtuin

Abstract

Fifteen pangolins were tagged with radio transmitters and their activity, diet, foraging behaviour and habitat selection were studied over a 14 month period in the Sabi Sand Wildtuin. The composition, diversity, and activity of epigaeic ants and termites were also studied concurrently with the pangolin's foraging behaviour. Twenty-five genera and 55 species of ants and termites were recorded. Pheidole sp. 2 was the most common and accounted for 27% of pitfall samples. Anoplolepis custodiens contributed to only five percent of the overall species composition, yet it was the predominant prey species in the pangolin's diet. The grassland savanna cleared habitat type had the highest overall species diversity and appeared to be the ideal habitat type for ants. The diversity of ants and termites was greater in summer than in winter for all habitat types. The overall activity of ants and termites was significantly higher during summer than during winter and the activity of A. custodiens was 11 times higher during summer compared to winter. Sixty per cent of the total activity of this species was recorded in the calc brack habitat type. The nocturnal activity of ants and termites proved significantly lower than the diurnal activity.