Open AccessLeptodactylus vastus (LEPTODACTYLIDAE) predation on an endemic frog, and a compilation of its diet
Author(s) -
Felipe Eduardo Alves Coelho,
Felipe de Medeiros Magalhães,
Aldenir Ferreira da Silva Neta,
Ricardo Marques
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
acta biológica colombiana/acta biológica colombiana
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.184
H-Index - 13
eISSN - 1900-1649
pISSN - 0120-548X
DOI - 10.15446/abc.v27n1.90678
Subject(s) - predation , leptodactylidae , biology , squamata , zoology , generalist and specialist species , juvenile , predator , ecology , habitat
Diet composition constitutes basic information on the natural history of the species. Despite the amount of data acquired in the last years, much remains to be known specially for geographically widespread species. Here we compiled the available dietary items of Leptodactylus vastus and report the first predation event upon Rupirana cardosoi by a juvenile L. vastus. The fact these species are syntopic in the region probably resulted in this novel predation event. Different from previous L. vastus predation observations, the specimens we observed do not present a striking difference in body size, but L. vastus was able to almost swallow L. cardosoi, coherent with findings that mouth size is related to prey selection in anurans. Also, our literature review showed that L. vastus is a generalist and opportunistic predator, that prey upon small vertebrates (Amphibia, Squamata, and Mammalia).