Herpetology Notes, volume 12: 661-662 (2019) (published online on 28 June 2019)

First report of a caecilian amphibian (Siphonopidae: Microcaecilia sp.) being preyed upon by a scorpion (Chactidae: Brotheas sp.)

Renoir J. Auguste1,*, Rainer Deo2, Brent Finnell2, and Hukaymah Ali2

Caecilians (Amphibia: Gymnophiona) are rarely However, vertebrates, such as lizards have also been encountered in the wild and as a result there are limited reported as part of their diet (Castilla, 1995). Given that natural history data on them (e.g., Wilkinson, 2012). certain caecilian and scorpion species inhabit similar Reports of predation on caecilians are even rarer, microhabitats, and scorpions are considered generalist but some authors have observed caecilian predators type feeders, the likelihood of predation on caecilians including snakes (e.g., Kupfer et al., 2003, Bittencourt- Silva and Wilkinson, 2018), caimans (Melo Sampaio et al., 2013), ants (Jestrzemski and Schutz, 2016) and bird-eating spiders (Boistel and Pauwels, 2002). An extensive literature search indicates there have been no published records of predation on caecilians by scorpions (Scorpiones). Here, we report on a caecilian being preyed on by a scorpion. On 3rd July 2018, near Soesdyke Linden Highway, Guyana, South America (6.26570N, -58.21020E, WGS84), we observed a scorpion attacking a caecilian at around 22:30 hours. The scorpion (Brotheas sp.) was gripping onto the caecilian (Microcaecilia cf. rabei) with its pincers. The caecilian struggled and twirled the scorpion in the leaf litter while being pierced by the stinger (Fig. 1). In order to limit disturbance, we observed the event for about 10 minutes, leaving until witnessing the scorpion ingesting the caecilian. Although specimens were not collected, both were identified to (at least) genus by experts from the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) using our photographs. Scorpions are known to accept various types of prey which is available to them (Skutelsky, 1995). Insect and spider populations predominantly make up the known diet of scorpions (McCormick and Polis, 1990).

1 Dept. of Life Sciences, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago. 2 The El Socorro Centre for Wildlife Conservation. Freeport, Figure 1. A caecilian amphibian (Microcaecilia cf. rabei) Trinidad and Tobago. being preyed upon by a scorpion (Brotheas sp.) in Guyana. * Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected] Photographs by Rainer Deo. 662 Renoir J. Auguste et al. is unsurprising. Also, feeding loops where large Jestrzemski, D., Schutz, S. (2016): Arthropods as predators of invertebrates feed on vertebrates are a typical feature of herpetofauna in Chu Mom Ray National Park, Vietnam. Asian tropical ecosystems (e.g., Kupfer et al. 2006). Although Journal of Conservation Biology 5: 3–15. Kupfer, A., Gower, D.J., Himstedt, W. (2003): Field observations we were only able to obtain confirmed identifications on the predation of the caecilian amphibian, genus Ichthyophis to genus, our report contributes new knowledge about (Fitzinger, 1826), by the red-tailed pipe snake Cylindrophis the predator-prey interactions between caecilians and ruffus (Laurenti, 1768). Amphibia Reptilia 24: 212–215. scorpions in a biodiversity rich region. Kupfer, A., Langel, R., Scheu, S., Himstedt, W., Maraun, M. (2006): Trophic ecology of a tropical aquatic and terrestrial food Acknowledgements. We are grateful to Lorenzo Prendini and web: insights from stable isotopes (N-15). Journal of Tropical Charles J. Cole from AMNH for helping us identify the scorpion Ecology 22: 469–476. and the caecilian amphibian respectively. McCormick, S.J., Polis, G.A. (1990): Prey, predators, and parasites. In: The Biology of Scorpions p. 294-320. Polis, G.A., Ed. References Standford University Press. Melo Sampaio, P.R., da Silva, M.N., de Matos, S.A., de Matos, Bittencourt-Silva, G.B., Wilkinson, M. (2018): First record of L.R.A, Acosta, M. (2013): First report of predation by a predation on the caecilian Microcaecilia unicolor (Dúmeril, caiman (Paleosuchus trigonatus, Crocodylia: Alligatoridae) 1863). Herpetology Notes 11: 641–644. on a caecilian (Caecilia marcusi, Gymnophiona: Caecilidae). Boistel, R., Pauwels, O.S.G. (2002): Oscaecilia zweifeli (Zweifel’s Salamandra 49: 227–228. Caecilian). Predation. Herpetological Review 33: 120–121. Skutelsky, O. (1995): Flexibility in foraging tactics of Buthus Castilla, A.M. (1995): Interactions between lizards (Podarcis occitanus scorpions as a response to above-ground activity of hispanica atrata) and scorpions (Buthus occitanus) in the termites. Journal of Arachnology 23: 46–47. Columbretes Islands. The Bulletin of the Society of Natural Wilkinson, M. (2012): Quick guide: Caecilians. Current Biology History of the Balearic Islands 38: 47–50. 22: 668–669.

Accepted by Kanto Nishikawa