Abstract
A case of Oligodon ocellatus eating a toxic adult toad, Duttaphrynus melanostictus, in Cat Tien National Park, southern Vietnam, is provided. We found a kukri snake having buried its head deeply into the abdomen of the toad and probably being in the process of eating organs. Subsequently, the toad was swallowed whole and the kukri snake moved away and disappeared with the toad’s hind feet still visible from its mouth. It is hypothesised that the behaviour of eviscerating or piercing anurans to eat their organs has been developed in the O. cyclurus species group or clade. This has now been observed in three species.
Highlights
A unique and novel feeding mode amongst snakes was described as the kukri snake Oligodon fasciolatus had been observed cutting open the abdomen of the poisonous toad Duttaphrynus melanostictus and eating its organs (Bringsøe et al 2020)
We provide an example of a similar behaviour in the closely-related species Oligodon ocellatus, the Ocellated Kukri Snake
Henrik Bringsøe & James Holden: Oligodon ocellatus pierces and eats Duttaphrynus melanostictus having slit open the abdomen with the enlarged posterior maxillary teeth
Summary
A unique and novel feeding mode amongst snakes was described as the kukri snake Oligodon fasciolatus had been observed cutting open the abdomen of the poisonous toad Duttaphrynus melanostictus and eating its organs (Bringsøe et al 2020). Another kukri snake piercing an anuran abdomen: Oligodon ocellatus (Morice, 1875) eats Duttaphrynus melanostictus (Schneider, 1799) in Vietnam
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