Dietary value of fruits and seeds to spiny pocket mice (Liomys pictus) in a tropical deciduous forest in Mexico

Spiny pocket mice (Liomys pictus) were maintained on monospecific diets of fruits and seeds of twelve plant species from a tropical deciduous forest in Mexico. Average consumption rates over 5-day trials were determined and classified as high, moderate or low. The products of plant species providing the most valuable food to spiny pocket mice were shown to contain high crude protein or lipid contents. The least valuable dietary components contained glucosides and alkaloids possibly deterrent to spiny mice, however, some of these fruits or seeds were moderately consumed. It is concluded that nutritional value or presence of toxic compounds in fruits and seeds might affect dietary choices of spiny pocket mice.