Review of post-metamorphic frog-eat-frog predation, with a description of a new cases of anurophagy

Abstract

Predatory interactions among anurans (Lissamphibia; Order: Anura) within food webs are important to assessing mortality threats in a conservation context. Anurans are a significant prey item for other anurans in post-metamorphic stage; however, to date, there are few studies addressing the distribution of frog-eat-frog predatory behavior across anuran taxa. Therefore, in this work, we review frog-eat-frog predation (hereafter, post-metamorphic anurophagy) in post-metamorphic individuals. Moreover, we describe the first case of anurophagy by the Colombian endemic frog Craugastor metriosistus preying on a juvenile of the Truando Toad Rhaebo haematiticus and on a juvenile of unidentified frog. In the literature, we found 161 records of anurophagy among 59 anuran predator species belonging to 29 genera and 16 families. Further, 134 species from 62 genera and 22 families were recorded as anuran prey. Anurophagy is mainly observed in large-bodied species belonging to families with generalist behaviors, such as Ceratophryidae, Leptodactylidae, and Ranidae. We also descibe the first record of anurophagy in the family Craugastoridae and suggest that this intra-Order predatory behavior might not be widespread across anuran taxa.