THE SPETACLED CAIMAN (Caiman crocodilus, CROCODYLIA, ALLIGATORIDAE) AS A PREDATOR OF THE AMAZON SAILFIN-CATFISH (Pterygoplichthys pardalis, SILURIFORMES, LORICARIDAE)

Abstract

We report an event of a Caiman crocodilus consuming the catfish Pterygoplichthys pardalis. A list of known prey items of C. crocodilus was also compiled from the literature, including known vertebrate and invertebrate items for this species. The predation event was observed at the margin of a lagoon in Reserva Florestal Adolpho Ducke, located in the municipality of Manaus, Amazonas state, Brazil, during a fieldwork study in 2020. The literature survey revealed 250 distinct prey items for this caiman, of which 150 are invertebrates (89 Insecta, 24 Crustacea, 14 Mollusca,10 Arachnida, 10 Myriapoda, 2 Annelida, and 1 Platyhelminthes) and 100 are vertebrates (53 fishes, 16 reptiles, 11 amphibians, 10 birds, and 10 mammals). Among fishes, only three Siluriformes have been taxonomically identified as C. crocodilus preys: Hoplosternum littorale, Clarias batrachus, and Ameiurus nebulosus. Therefore, the catfish P. pardalis represents a new prey specie for C. crocodilus. Our field observation and the presented literature review reinforce the view of C. crocodilus as a generalist predator, with fish as the most important vertebrate prey in the diet of this species.