Meeting Abstract
Macronutrient composition plays a role in food intake of carnivores, in the wild and in captivity. Research has shown species such as dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) target for high fat diets, while cats (Felis catus) and mink (Neovison vison) target for high protein and moderate fat diets. The largest extant Australian marsupial carnivore, the Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) and one of the smallest, the fat-tailed dunnart (Sminthopsis crassicaudata) have been studied to determine their macronutrient preferences. Preliminary analysis has shown devils prefer protein while dunnarts prefer fat. Their choices can be related to their dietary preferences and physiological/behavioural processes.
