Decapitation of the tortoise Chersina angulata: is the large grey mongoose a headhunter?

This paper reports a previously undescribed form of predation upon the angulate tortoise, Chersina angulata, in the West Coast National Park, South Africa. Twelve recently killed C. angulata were found, within an area of 4-5 hectares, during April 2000. The head and neck were missing from all indivi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:African zoology 2002-04, Vol.37 (1), p.114-116
Main Author: Ramsay, Scot L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Chersina
mongoose
predation
tortoise
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Summary:This paper reports a previously undescribed form of predation upon the angulate tortoise, Chersina angulata, in the West Coast National Park, South Africa. Twelve recently killed C. angulata were found, within an area of 4-5 hectares, during April 2000. The head and neck were missing from all individuals, while the rest of the body was undamaged. Spoor of the large grey mongoose, Herpestes ichneumon, was observed at a freshly killed tortoise and it is argued that this was the predator responsible.
ISSN:1562-7020
2224-073X
DOI:10.1080/15627020.2002.11657164