Chironius fuscus (Serpentes: Colubridae): Predation over anurans in explosive reproduction

Authors

  • Edelcio Muscat Projeto Dacnis. Estrada do Rio Escuro 4754, CEP 11680-000, Ubatuba, São Paulo, Brazil.
  • Arthur Diesel Abegg Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM). Avenida Roraima, 1.000, Camobi, CEP 97105 900, Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
  • Omar M. Entiauspe-Neto Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Vertebrados, Av. Itália Km 8, CEP: 96203-900, Vila Carreiros, Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4013/nbc.2017.121.08

Abstract

Anurans compose an important part of the diet of several species of Neotropical snakes. Here we report a predator-prey interaction involving Chironius fuscus and Ololygon argyreornata. A young individual of C. fuscus preyed three specimens of O. argyreornata, in soil, while occurred explosive reproduction of frogs. This contribution reinforces ecological data that C. fuscus forages mainly on the ground. We believe that this interaction can occur with relative frequency and that eventually arboreal frogs can compose important sample in C. fuscus’ diet, which is based on terrestrial amphibians.

Keywords: anurophagy, Colubrinae, diet, feeding habits.

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Published

2017-04-30

Issue

Vol. 12 No. 1 (2017): January/April

Section

Short Communication

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