[Comparative study of the chemical composition of excrement from some large African herbivorous mammals]

In the course of an ecological and comparative study concerning the beetle and fly communities inhabiting the droppings of some large African grass-eating mammals, we analysed the chemical composition of fresh dung dropped in winter 1977-1978 and in spring 1978. The mammals concerned are : Blesbok (Damaliscus pygargus albifrons Pallas), Impala (Aepyceros melampus Licht.), Bongo (Boocerus euryceros Ogilby), Nyala (Tragelaphus angasi Angas), Eland from Cap (Taurotragus oryx Pallas), Eland of Lloyd Derby (Taurotragus derbianus Gray) and Zebu (Bos indicus Lin). The results of these chemical analysis were treated by a statistical method based upon the different multivariate analysis, largely used in mathematical taxonomy. This method allowed to draw up dendrograms showing the affinities between the different types of excrements. The affinities stated appeared to be related to the systematic position of the species so far studied.