Abstract
We studied the diet of Liophis reginae semilineatus (Wagler, 1824) from eastern Amazon, Brazil, based on the analysis of 182 preserved specimens. Thirty-six individuals had prey in their stomachs; 34 (95%) contained exclusively anurans and 2 (5%) contained both anurans and lizards. The most common prey items were small Leptodactylus sp. (33.3%), followed by Physalaemus ephippifer (Steindachner, 1864) (10.3%). Prey ingested head-first (78%; n = 25) were significantly larger than prey ingested tail-first (22%; n = 7). Females of L. reginae semilineatus have longer and wider heads than conspecific males with the same body length, which correspond to sexual divergences in the diet (size of the prey). No correlation was found between snake head length vs. prey size (SVL, width and mass). Liophis reginae semilineatus is an anurophagous snake that probably forages actively on the ground.
Highlights
Liophis Wagler, 1830 belongs to Xenodontini and includes 35 species, occurring from the Antilles and continental Central America to southern South America (DIXON 1989)
Despite the fact that L. reginae semilineatus is common in the Amazon region, in disturbed environments, data on the natural history of this species in the region is available only in CUNHA & NASCIMENTO (1993) and MARTINS & OLIVEIRA (1998)
In order to increase our knowledge of the natural history of L. reginae semilineatus, this study performs a quali-quantitative analysis of the feeding biology of eastern Amazonian populations of this species
Summary
Liophis Wagler, 1830 belongs to Xenodontini and includes 35 species, occurring from the Antilles and continental Central America to southern South America (DIXON 1989). The species of Liophis are opisthodont, eating a varied diet that consists primarily of anurans (including tadpoles), in addition to earthworms, fishes, salamanders, amphisbaenids and lizards (DUELLMAN 1978, VITT & VANGILDER 1983, MICHAUD & DIXON 1989, CUNHA & NASCIMENTO 1993, MARTINS & OLIVEIRA 1998, PINTO & FERNANDES 2004, PIZZATTO & MARQUES 2006). Despite the fact that L. reginae semilineatus is common in the Amazon region, in disturbed environments, data on the natural history of this species in the region is available only in CUNHA & NASCIMENTO (1993) and MARTINS & OLIVEIRA (1998). In order to increase our knowledge of the natural history of L. reginae semilineatus, this study performs a quali-quantitative analysis of the feeding biology of eastern Amazonian populations of this species
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