Photographic records of ophiophagy in Indian (Vulpes bengalensis) Raju Vyas1, Kartik Upadhyay2 and Manoj Thaker3

Limited literature available on the dietary range of Indian Fox Vulpes bengalensis, through numerous studies so far reveal a wide- spectrum of food items (Johnsingh 1978; Johnsingh & Jhala 2004; Manakadan & Rahmani 2000; Gompper & Vanak 2006; Vanak & Gompper 2009; Home & Jhala 2009), including the venomous Saw-scaled Viper (Echis carinatus). This dietary is purely educed on the basis of scat or fecal analysis, without direct sightings or observations of Indian Fox predating such a venomous snake. In addition to the existing data, this note presents a prima Fig 1. Indian Fox (Vulpes bengalensis) with partly consumed Saw-scaled facie observation of a fox viper (Echis carinatus) at Odu Village, , fringe area of Little Rann consuming a Saw-scaled viper of Kutch. (Photo: Kartik Upadhyay) through photographic evidences. We were able to record E. carinatus in the food of Indian Fox, on two different occasions at Odu ni dhasi, Odu village and Bhajir Vandh, , Kutch (23˚11’46”N; 68˚50’47”E). Both these localities are on the edge of (LRK) and Kutch Bustard Sanctuary (KBS).

This entire habitat is known to be the best habitat for Indian Gazelle (Gazelle gazelle), Spiny-tailed Lizard (Uromastyx hardwickii) and Saw-scaled Viper, along with Indian Fox and many other forms of arid fauna. Rodgers et al (2000) classified the area under semi-desert region of (Bio- Fig 2. Adult Indian Fox (Vulpes bengalensis) vigorously chewing Saw- scaled viper (Echis carinatus) within thickets of Prosopis vegetation. geographic Zone 3B), (Photo: Kartik Upadhyay) characterized by scanty and erratic rainfall as well as extreme Village, Surendranagar, we came already consumed. Within the temperatures. Champion and Seth across an adult fox wandering next 20-25 minutes, even the (1968) considered this area as around Prosopis shrubs with some remaining posterior part of the Northern Tropical Thorn Forest prey hanging from its jaws, at a snake was devoured (Fig 2). (6B) and further sub classified it distance of about hundred meter. as Desert Thorn Forest (6B/C1). On careful observation using The entire geographical area has a binoculars, we noticed the prey to 1505, Krishnadeep Tower, Mission large flat open saline landscape be 15 cm long posterior half eaten Road, Fatehgunj, Vadodara, Gujarat. with grassland, low undulating body part of E. carinatus (Fig 1) Email: [email protected] terrain with small hillocks. hanging from the fox’s jaws. Due 2B 104 Premsagar Apartment, Nr. to our presence, the fox advanced Rameshwar Temple, Ellora Park, Vadodara, Gujarat. On 18th March 2012, while visiting towards the Prosopis thickets with 352/C Divyajyot Society, the fringe area of LRK, at Odu ni the food. It was clear that the Nr. Akashvani, Makarpura Road, dhasi saltpan area near Odu anterior body part of the viper was Vadodara.

ZOO’s PRINT, Volume XXXI, Number 3, March 2016 4 habitat. They’re highly opportunistic omnivorous canids being flexible for varied feeding habits (Jethva &Jhala 2003). Studies of dietary spectrum of have revealed a wide range of prey species in diet, starting form rodents, lagomorphs, reptiles, , fishes, invertebrates and fruits. They have also been reported to feed on carcasses, eggs, and urban waste (Vanak & Gompper 2009). They are mostly crepuscular and nocturnal in habits, foraging usually during the dark hours. Their diet has been known to comprise of insects (grasshoppers, termites, beetles and ants), Arachnids (scorpions and spiders), crustaceans, rodents including gerbils, field rats and mice, hares (Lepus nigricollis), birds (Perdicula, Francolinus and Pterocles) and their eggs, and ground lizards and Calotes. Few species of snakes are also listed in the diet of V. benghalensis, including Common Rat Snake (Ptyas mucosus), Red Sand Boa (Eryx johnii) and Common Sand Boa (Gongylophis conicus) (Home & Jhala 2009). Fruits consumed by the foxes included ber (Zizyphus spp.), neem (Azadirachta indica), mango (Mangifera indica), jambun (Syzygium cumini), banyan (Ficus bengalensis) and pods of Cicer arietum and Cassia fistula Fig 3. Fresh killed Saw-scaled viper (Echis carinatus) outside the fox’s (Johnsingh 1978; Manakadan and den along with a number of footprints (it could be E. c. sochurei). Rahmani 2000). They have also (Photo: Manoj Thaker) been reported to consume fruits of Capparis, Acacia, Prosopis and Our second observation was noted the den. Instead we came across Salvadora (Home & Jhala 2009). on 23rd March 2015, whereby an varying sizes of footprints, of adult adult fox was seen carrying some foxes and pups. We thus assumed Both the observations have been food in the mouth and moving that the viper must have been noted in the month of March which away from us, in the outskirts of eaten up by the pack after we left coincides with the breeding season KBS, near Naliya, Kutch. The fox the area. of foxes (Acharjyo & Misra 1976; immediately ran quickly towards Manakadan & Rahmani 2000; the other side of the agricultural The V. benghalensis is a solitary Gompper & Vanak 2006). This field. It crouched inside an and small canid widely distributed strengthens the possibility that underground burrow hurriedly, across Indian subcontinent from may be the parent foxes predated leaving the prey outside. Upon the foothills of the Himalayas in and fetched a fresh killed Echis to careful observation, we were able Nepal to the southern tip of the feed it to the young pups as a rich to examine and verify that the Indian subcontinent. Fox’s feeding source of proteins. Hunting and prey was an intact freshly killed 23 habits are mostly interesting, feeding of such a venomous and cm long E. carinatus (Fig 3). On usually feeding on small animals active viper snake by fox, our way back that evening, we did and plants, depending upon describes the hunting acumen of not find that killed viper outside availability of food within its

ZOO’s PRINT, Volume XXXI, Number 3, March 2016 5 the species. The behavioral aspect Gompper, M.E. and A.T. Vanak www.reptile-database.org, of the adult fox bringing the viper (2006). Vulpes bengalensis. Accessed: 18 December 2015. near the mouth of the den also Mammlian Species 795: 1-5. shows the strength of parenting Vanak, A.T. (2005). Distribution instinct within the species, Home, C. (2005). Resource and status of the Indian fox especially during the breeding utilization by the Indian fox (Vulpes bengalensis) in southern season. (Vulpes bengalensis) in Kutch, India. Canis News 8 (1)[online] Gujarat. M.S. Thesis, Saurashtra http://www.canids.org/canidnews/ Saw-scaled Viper is one of the University, Rajkot, India.78pp. 8/Indian smaller venomous snakes from the (Unpublished). _fox_in_southern_India.pdf Family Viperidae, growing hardly up to 40-50 cm and rarely 92 cm Home, C. and Y.V. Jhala Vanak, A.T. and M.E. Gompper (Vyas 1987). This little snake (2009). Food habits of the Indian (2009). Dietary niche separation holds enough venom to kill a small fox (Vulpes bengalensis) in Kutch, between sympatric free-ranging animal like fox. It is very widely Gujarat, India. Mammalian Biology domestic dogs and Indian foxes in distributed across the Indian 74 (2009): 403-411; http:// central India. Journal of subcontinent, recognized by two dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.mambio. Mammalogy 90(5):1058–1065 sub-species E. c. carinatus and E. 2009.05.011 c. sochurei, both of which occur in Voss, R.S. and S.A. Jansa Gujarat (Whitaker & Captain 2004; Jethva, B.D. and Y.V. Jhala (2012). Snake-venom resistance Uetz & Hosek 2015). Feeding (2003). Sample size as a mammalian trophic habit which involves ingestion of a considerations of food habit adaptation: lessons from didelphid venomous snake is termed as studies of from scats. marsupials. Biological Reviews, ophiophagy and is observed in Mammalia 68 (4): 589–591. 87: 822–837; http://dx.doi.org/ only in few groups of smaller 10.1111/j.1469-185X. mammals (Voss & Jansa 2012), Johnsingh, A.J.T. (1978). Some 2012.00222.x including several opossums aspects of the ecology and (Didelphidae), hedgehogs behaviour of the Indian fox Vulpes Vyas, R. (1987). A list of the (Erinaceidae), mongooses bengalensis. (Shaw). Journal of snakes of Bhavnagar District, (Herpestidae), several mustelids the Bombay Natural History Gujarat. Journal of the Bombay and some skunks (Mephitidae). Society 75: 397–405. Natural History Society 84(1): Venom resistance in ophiophagus 227-230. mammals is a complex adaptation Johnsingh, A.J.T. and Y.V. that merits attention from Jhala (2004). Vulpes bengalnesis Whitaker, R. and A. Captain comparative biologists. How and (Shaw 1800). In: Sillero-Zubiri, C., (2004). Snakes of India. The field why such hunting and feeding et al. (Eds.), Canids: Foxes, guide. Draco Books, Chennai, xiv adaption was evolved in such Wolves, Jackals & Dogs. Status +481 pp. groups of mammals is further a Survey andConservation Action subject of ethno-evolution Plan, IUCN/SSC Canid Specialist research. Unfortunately, Group. IUCN, Gland, pp. 219–222. evolutionary inference is currently limited due to our ignorance Manakadan, R. and A.P. towards relevant facts, which can Rahmani (2000). Population and only be discovered by future ecology of the Indian fox Vulpes research. bengalensis at the Rollapadu Wildlife Sanctuary, Andhra References Pradesh, India. Journal of the Acharjyo, L.N. and R. Misra Bombay Natural History Society (1976). A note on the breeding of 97: 3-14. the Indian fox Vulpes bengalensis in captivity. Journal of the Rodgers, W.A., Panwar, H.S. Bombay Natural History Society and V.B. Mathur (2000). Wildlife 73:208. Protected Area Network in India: A Review (Ex. Summary). Wildlife Champion, H.G. and S.K. Seth Institute of India, , 22pp. (1968). The Forest Types of India. The Manager of Publications, Uetz P. and J. Hošek (2015). New Delhi, 404pp. The Reptile Database, http://

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