干旱区生态环境知识资源中心

The Cutch rock rat, Cremnomys cutchicus, inhabits rocky outcrops in the Thar desert and has been found to be the most abundant small mammal on the Aravalli mountains in India. Due to the recent increase in irrigated agriculture in tilt: 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 determine its preferred food which can be used for poison formulations. Pearl millet in whole form, and green gram in cracked form 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 forms was observed in green grant (P < 0.001) and bengal gram (P < 0.001). The consumption decreased significantly in cracked pearl millet (P < 0.001). 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 mon 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.