Abstract
Abstract: Anurans are predator and prey, playing an important role in ecosystem functioning. The diet composition is closely related to feeding strategy, and the information about prey items is useful to understand intra and interspecific interactions in trophic webs. Here we determined diet composition, feeding strategy, and relation between prey ingestion and body measures of Crossodactylus timbuhy, a recently described anuran species. We found 466 prey items from 20 prey categories in the stomach of 66 specimens (15 males and 51 females) of C. timbuhy. The diet consists mostly of Formicidae and Coleoptera, the items with the highest number, frequency of occurrence and prey importance. The diet composition was relatively similar to other species of Crossodactylus. Prey volume was positively related to frog size and weight, suggesting frogs may feed upon any prey they can swallow. Diet showed some variation between sexes. Despite females were larger and heavier than males, females had higher consumption of smaller prey, and ingested a larger number of prey categories. We suggest C. timbuhy has an invertebrate-opportunistic feeding habit. It is likely C. timbuhy uses a combination of ‘sit-and-wait’ and ‘active search’ strategies due to high consumption of both highly mobile and sedentary prey.
Highlights
The Atlantic Forest comprises one of the biodiversity hotspots in the world (Myers et al 2000)
We evaluated the stomach content of 66 specimens of C. timbuhy, 15 males and 51 females
We suggest that males of C. timbuhy may had been calling near the stream and had fallen less than females into pitfall traps in the forest (i.e. > 15 m from the stream’s edge)
Summary
The Atlantic Forest comprises one of the biodiversity hotspots in the world (Myers et al 2000). Anurans play an important role in ecosystem functionality because they can act as predator and prey (Caldart et al 2011, Hocking & Babbitt 2014). They are mainly opportunistic predators feeding mostly on small invertebrates (Solé & Rödder 2009, Cicort- Lucaciu et al 2011, Ferreira et al 2012). Anurans contribute to the energy flow to higher trophic levels (Pough 1980). In addition to contributing to the knowledge of the natural history of species, the diet composition information is useful to understand intra and interspecific interactions in trophic webs, energy flow and ecosystem functioning
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
