WCS 3-Sentence Science

What Is a Bokiboky and What does It Eat?

September 6, 2019

CREDIT: WCS MADAGASCAR

Each year, Wildlife Conservation Society scientists publish more than 300 peer-reviewed studies and papers. “WCS 3-Sentence Science” is a regular tip-sheet — in bite sized helpings — of some of this published work.

Here we present work by the WCS Madagascar program’s Aristide Andrianarimisa on the diet of the bokiboky, a mongoose native to Madagascar.

1. The feeding ecology of the bokiboky (Mungotictis decemlineata), a small carnivore found only in Madagascar, is poorly known.
2. Researchers provide detailed observations on the feeding ecology of the bokiboky in the Kirindy Forest/CNFEREF, a dry deciduous forest in central western Madagascar finding a total of 420 food items from 22 different taxa.
3. They conclude that the bokiboky has a broad dietary preference, but is predominantly insectivorous, and that it responds to seasonal variation in prey abundance, and its inclination to insectivory may be a factor facilitating the formation of female groups.

Study and Journal: “Feeding ecology of the bokiboky, Mungotictis decemlineata (family Eupleridae)” from Malagasy Nature 13
WCS Co-Author(s): Aristide Andrianarimisa, Research and Science Coordination, WCS Madagascar

For more information, contact: Stephen Sautner, 718–220–3682, ssautner@wcs.org.