The diet of the Crested porcupine Hystrix cristata L., 1758 in a Mediterranean rural area

摘要: Studied was the diet of crested porcupines by faecal analysis in a rural hilly area central Italy. Food categories were identified comparison with either isolated sections fresh plant material or digested fragments obtained from captive fed experimentally. Roots predominated and consumed at similar frequency all year round. Herbs most eaten epygeal category especially winter spring. Possibly consumption herbs related to decrease availability other food categories, such as grass inflorescences fruits. Consumption these two positively correlated inversely associated herbs. Grass (mainly Hordeum murinum) an important component summer. Porcupines on fruits mainly summer autumn. The storage organs increased values trophic niche breadth overlap suggested that are generalist foragers. These feeding habits, combined abandonment man countryside last few decades, may partly explain recent range expansion porcupine