Food Preference and Calorific Requirements of the Cutch Rock-rat, Cremnomys cutchicus medius

Abstract

The Cutch rock rat, Crenlllomys cutchicus, inhabits rocky outcrops in
the thar desert and has been found to be the most abundant small manmlal on the Aravalli mountains in India. Due to the recent increase in irrigated agriculture in the valleys, it has altered its niche from rock-crevices to the vicinity of crop fields and damages the standing crops. To control its population below the threshold level, experiments were carried out in laboratory cages to detennine its preferred
food which can be used for poison fonnu1ations. Pearl millet in whole form, and green gnun in cracked fonn were the best ranked foods when they were given in no choice test. Among six exposed foods, no statistically significant difference was evidenced in whole and cracked forms of sorghum (t=1.09) and wheat (t=2.24),while a significantly increased consumption of cracked fonns was observed in green
gram (P <0.001) and bengal grrun(P < 0.00 1). The consumuption decreased significantly in cracked pearl millet (P < 0.00 1). The average daily intake of food and caloric requirement (18 to 39 kcal) of this muried rodent is highest among the species
in the region, probably because it inhabits difficult rocky terrain and needs much more 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, during October to January, for the effective control of this species.