Body size, diet and endoparasites of the microhylid frog Chiasmocleis capixaba in an Atlantic Forest area of southern Bahia state, Brazil

M Van Sluys,G M Schittini,R V Marra,D Vrcibradic,J J Vicente,A R M Azevedo

doi:10.1590/s1519-69842006000100021

M Van Sluys, G M Schittini + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/s1519-69842006000100021

Copy DOI

Abstract

We analyzed the diet composition, endoparasites and sexual size dimorphism of the microhylid frog Chiasmocleis capixaba (Microhylidae) from a "mussununga" habitat in the municipality of Nova Viçosa, southern Bahia state, Brazil. All the 119 specimens analyzed were collected in a single night of heavy rainfall. Females (mean snout-vent length = 15.7 + 3.0 mm) were significantly larger than males (mean snout-vent length = 13.2 + 2.1 mm), and specimens of both sexes were smaller than those of a conspecific population previously reported in Aracruz, state of Espírito Santo state. The diet of C. capixaba was dominated by mites, ants and collembolans. Seventy-nine frogs (66.4% of the total) were infected by helminths, all belonging to a single species, Cosmocerca ornata, an intestinal nematode parasite.

Highlights

Tamanho corporal, dieta e endoparasitas do anuro microhilídeo Chiasmocleis capixaba em uma área de Floresta Atlântica no sul do Estado da Bahia, Brasil
Chiasmocleis capixaba Cruz et al, 1997 is a small eastern Brazilian species of Chiasmocleis that lives on the leaf litter of the forest ground, in lowland Atlantic Forest from southern Bahia state to Espírito Santo state (Cruz et al, 1997; Van Sluys, 1998)
Mean body size was significantly larger for females than for males

Summary

Methods

The frogs were collected during an anuran faunal survey in April 1997, in a ‘mussununga’ habitat in the municipality of Nova Viçosa (17° 53’ 31’’ S/39° 22’ 19’’ W), southern Bahia state. The digestive tract of each frog was removed for analysis of the diet and associated endoparasite (helminths) fauna. The total number of individual helminths of each species was quantified and their location (according to each portion of the digestive tract – stomach, small intestine and large intestine) was recorded. To calculate the mean intensity of infection (sensu Bush et al, 1997), we used the arithmetic mean (+ one SD) of all helminths found in infected frogs. To test for differences between males and females in the intensity of infection, we used the Student t-test (Zar, 1999). Voucher specimens of the helminths were deposited at the helminthological collection of the Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (CHIOC) under the numbers 35305-9

Results and Discussion

Jaw Width

Arthropod remains

Mean volume of prey