Predation by snakes on seabirds at three South African islands

Abstract

During 1989–1994, adult mole snakes Pseudaspis cana at Robben Island were recorded eating eggs of African penguin Spheniscus demersus and Hartlaub's gull Larus hartlaubii, as well as those of helmeted guinea-fowl Numida meleagris. Juvenile mole snakes ate clicking stream frogs Strongylopus grayii. At Schaapen and Meeuw islands, egg-eater snakes Dasypeltis scabra fed on eggs of Cape cormorant Phalacrocorax capensis, kelp gull L. dominicanus and rock pigeon Columba guinea. A puff adder Bitis arietans was seen at Meeuw Island, but was not observed feeding there.