The Tree Hyrax (Dendrohyrax arboreus): Feeding Behaviour, Activity Patterns and Traditional Medicinal Use in Kafa Zone, Southwest Ethiopia
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Date
2016-12
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Feeding behaviour, activity pattern and traditional medicinal use of the tree hyrax (Dendrohyrax
arboreus) were investigated by direct observations and by questionnaire interview method
between July – December 2015 in the Kafa Zone, Southwest Ethiopia. Transect method was used
to observe feeding behavior and activity patterns and questionnaire interview was used to
determine traditional medicinal use of tree hyrax. Tree hyrax shelters and trees with cavities
were located. Activities of hyraxes were observed in the morning, midday and afternoon hours.
Tree hyraxes showed a bimodal pattern of activity. Feeding was the dominant activity, which
occupied 44.98% of day time activity time ( 2 = 33.13, d.f. = 9, P < 0.001). The most important
dietary plant species of tree hyrax was Ipomoea tenuirostris (Yimbiroo, in the local language of
kafegna). Travelling within and between trees occupied 39.68% of the daily time activity. There
was difference in the activity levels in the morning, midday and afternoon hours ( 2 = 9.4, d.f. =
2, P < 0.001) of the day. There was no difference in their calling behaviour in relation to season
in the study area. The stomach of the tree hyrax is important for local people in traditional
medicinal use for cure of deep coughing and for fast growth of children. The local people
prepare traditional medicine by drying and powdering stomach parts of tree hyrax and
administered orally. The ecological strategy of tree hyrax in terms of slow food intake rate and
energy conservation is discussed.
Key words: Activity patterns, D. arboreus, Feeding behaviour, Kafa Zone, Medicinal value
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Keywords
Activity patterns, D. arboreus, Feeding behaviour, Kafa Zone, Medicinal value