Abstract
Subterranean foraging army ants (Labidus coecus) preyed on eggs and hatchlings of three species of Amazon River turtles (genus Podocnemis) in northeastern Peru. The raided nests were in a hatchery constructed atop the soil surface of a beach on the Tapiche River. The ant raid persisted across at least 9 days, and ant foraging impacted nests over an area of approximately 14 m2. Observations suggest the ant workers chewed through turtle egg shells and entered nestling turtle body cavities via their eyes and yolk sacks (when present). Our observations, combined with previous reports, show that ant predation on river turtle nests, and particularly predation by Labidus coecus, is geographically widespread in Amazonia. Ant predation may represent an under-recorded source of turtle egg and nestling mortality. We discuss how army ant behavior affects strategies for mitigating ant predation in turtle hatcheries.
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