Among habitat variation in prey availability and use by caracal Felis caracal

Abstract

In order to determine whether caracal Felis caracal are specialist or generalist feeders, correlation between prey availability and prey use by caracal was investigated in a conservation area and on small-stock farms. In a coastal arid shrub ecosystem on the South African west coast caracal fed on prey ranging in size and taxa from 1 g insects to 31 kg antelope. As in some other arid areas and ecosystems the most common prey was rodents, especially striped mice Rhabdomys pumilio and bush Karoo rats Otomys unisulcatus, and in addition, birds. The occurrence of particular prey taxa in scats was significantly correlated with their availability, with seasonal trends in both availability and use of prey evident in four habitats sampled. Predation on introduced springbok, and on small stock on farms, was seasonal and of limited extent. Results indicate that at any given time or place caracal take a wide range of prey species but concentrate on those that are most abundant, and are thus generalist feeders.