Abstract

PUEBLA-OLIVARES, Fernando; SALCEDO-HERNANDEZ, Janitce Elizabeth  and  FIGUEROA-ESQUIVEL, Elsa Margarita. The possum wood (Hura polyandra) in the diet of the Military Macaw (Ara militaris). Huitzil [online]. 2018, vol.19, n.2, pp.157-167. ISSN 1870-7459.  https://doi.org/10.28947/hrmo.2018.19.2.323.

The Military Macaw (Ara militaris) through its range in Mexico feeds generally on large seeds of 62 species of plants, which are part of their diet. However, four species are among the most important and among them is the possum wood (Hura polyandra), one of the most representative trees of the median sub-deciduous forests on both slopes of Mexico. The objective of the present study was to know the nutritional properties provided by this fruit to the Military Macaw in the stream Las Iglesias, locality of Salazares, municipality of Tepic, Nayarit. Once we observe the use of the Military Macaw the immature fruits of possum wood tree, we collect fruits to analyze their nutritional quality. We found that the seeds contain a high percentage of water, lipids, proteins and a lower percentage of carbohydrates. Because the energy requirements of the Military Macaw are high to perform their daily activities, the contribution of nutrients of the H. polyandra seeds could represent a vital food resource during the breeding season.

Keywords : Feeding; nutritional quality; Nayarit; Psittacidae; energy requirement.