Food habits of some neotropical carnivores in Venezuela (Mammalia, Carnivora)

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Abstract
Food habits of seven neotropical carnivores were determined by analysis of stomach contents. The species include the kinjajou (Potos flavus, N = 20), raccoon (Procyon cancrivorus, N = 9), coati (Nasua nasua, N = 3), tayra (Eira barbara, N = 7), grison (Galictis vittata, N = 2), ocelot (Felis pardalis, N = 10) and yaguarundi (Felis yagouraoundi, N = 1). Food items were identified and divided into 11 chief groups. The amount of each item was measured by the volumetric method. Aquatic vertebrates and invertebrates were the major source of food for racoons. Coatis consumed great quantities of forest floor invertebrates and kinjajous were essentially frugivorous. Fruits and small mammals were the most important groups in the diet of Eira barbara. The two stomachs of Galictis contained only small vertebrates. Small mammals were most heavily used by ocelots, but birds and reptiles were the groups most frequently found in the diet of yaguarundis. We can conclude that these carnivores are opportunistic feeders with a particular prey preference.

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