Field Observations of Predation Events in Malagasy Amphibians and Reptiles
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Herpetology Notes, volume 11: 659-662 (2018) (published online on 24 August 2018) Field observations of predation events in Malagasy amphibians and reptiles Achille Philippe Raselimanana1,2,* Abstract. The relationship between prey and predator is a common interaction within animal communities, but it is often poorly documented. The records for a species diet are often obtained by fecal sample examination and from collected regurgitated samples, rather than direct observation. Here we report three cases of predation events by Malagasy amphibians and reptiles observed in the wild and try to explore and interpret the predation strategies used in these observations. Keywords. Mimophis occultus, Zonosaurus laticaudatus, Trachylepis elegans, Mantidactylus guttulatus, dietary observation, Madagascar Records of predation events in the wild are often the al., 2016; Cove, 2017); although these records remains result of opportunistic observations during fieldwork quite scarce (e.g. Heying, 2001). studies. The relationship between prey and predator Here we report three cases of predation events observed within an animal community is usually poorly in a newly described snake species Mimophis occultus documented, and mechanisms of prey capture and Ruane, Myers, Lo, Yuen, Welt, Juman, Futterman, ingestion are often unknown. The almost unparalleled Nussbaum, Schneider, Burbrink & Raxworthy diversity of the Malagasy herpetofauna is recognized (2017), in the girdled lizard Zonosaurus laticaudatus worldwide (Myers et al., 2000; Glaw & Vences, 2007), (Grandidier, 1869), and in the frog Mantidactylus but there is a large knowledge gap on the availability of guttulatus (Boulenger, 1881).. information on the ecology of Malagasy herpetofauna On June 11th 2015 at 15:56 h, at the bottom of a (including foraging, diet, and predation strategies). deep canyon in Anjiamangirana forest (15°09’24.3”S, Several records have been derived from stomach 47°44’05.9”E, 102 m a.s.l.), in north-western content analysis, or from post-mortem dissection of preserved specimens (e.g. Raxworthy and Nussbaum, 1994; Vences et al., 1999; Woodhead et al., 2007; Knoll et al., 2009) and in the recent years we observe an increase in the publications of predation notes based on field observation (e.g. Mercurio et al., 2006; Jovanovic et al., 2009; Knoll et al., 2009; Crottini et al., 2010; Rosa et al., 2010; Gardner and Jasper, 2015; Rosa et 1 Mention Zoology and Animal Biodiversity, Faculty of Sciences, University of Antananarivo. Antananarivo, 101, Madagascar. 2 Association Vahatra lot VA 38 LB Ter A, Ambohidempona- Figure 1. Swallowing process of the large size prey illustrated Tsiadana, Antananarivo 101, Madagascar. by the enlargement of the flexible jaws and the extension of * Author e-mail: [email protected] the skin in the anterior part of the body of the snake. 660 Achille Philippe Raselimanana Madagascar, we observed an adult Mimophis occultus might be facilitated by its cryptic coloration that could in the process of ingesting a plated lizard, Zonosaurus allow it to surprise a basking lizard. laticaudatus (Fig. 1). This prey item is very large The second predation event reports on a plated in relation to the snake, which struggled to ingest it. lizard, Zonosaurus laticaudatus catching and eating Snakes are renowned for their capacity to hunt and upon the skink, Trachylepis elegans Peters, 1854. This swallow large preys because of the flexibility of their record was observed on December 5th 2017 at 15:22 jaws, joined by ligaments at the front part. As already h in a dry deciduous forest of Kirindy (20°04’02.3”S, reported in the majority of other snake species, (e.g. 44°39’26.5”E, 55 m a.s.l.), in the west of Madagascar. Mimophis mahfalensis Rosa et al., (2016); Parastenophis In the area where we witness this predation the soil is betsileanus Kaloloha et al. (2011)), the lizard was covered by thick leaf litter and dried leaves and both swallowed head first. In nature, Mimophis occultus in species are abundant and forage among these dead known to commonly preys upon frogs (e.g. Ptychadena leaves in this dry deciduous forest. An adult Zonosaurus mascareniensis) and small reptiles (e.g. skinks, Cove, laticaudatus caught an adult Trachylepis elegans from (2017)), but the feeding on a large-sized species which its tail base, and while the predator had difficulties to grip is known to be extremely strong and fast-running, was it correctly, the prey autotomized its tail (Figure 2A). To thus far not reported and we consider it to be a rare enable the ingestion of the prey the predator turned the event. The apparent capacity of this snake species to prey and started to ingest it, head first (Figures 2B-C). successfully attack such a large and fast running lizard After getting the head of the prey into its mouth, it took Figure 2. A) Zonosaurus laticaudatus caught awkwardly the prey Trachylepis elegans from the tail which was autotomized, probably an escape strategy to the predator. B-C) Zonosaurus laticaudatus effectuated different movements with his head to turn the position of the prey 180° to grip it from the head, good position for swallowing process. 2D) Swallowing process almost done two minutes after the head of prey getting into the mouth. Field observations of predation events in Malagasy amphibians and reptiles 661 Acknowledgement. We thank the Association Vahatra for organizing the fieldwork, and Helmsley Foundation for the financial support. Research permits were generously delivered by the Ministry of the environment Ecology and Forest. References Cove, M.V. (2017). Mimophis mahfalensis (Malagasy big-eyed snake) Diet. Herpetological Review 48 (2): 454. Crottini, A., Harris, D. J., Irisarri, I.A., Lima, A., Rasamison, S., Rosa, G. M. (2010): Confirming Domergue: Ithycyphus oursi Domergue, 1986 predation upon Furcifer oustaleti (Mocquard, 1894). +erpetology Notes 3: 127–131. Gardner, C., Jasper, L. (2015): Diet of the endemic Malagasy day gecko Phelsuma modesta leiogaster Mertens, 1970 in an urban Figure 3: Mantidactylus guttulatus in ingestion process of a environment. Herpetology Notes 8: 489–492. freshwater crab, predator and prey live along a stream with Glaw, F., Vences, M. (2007). A field guide to the amphibians and aquatic invertebrates and other frogs. reptiles of Madagascar, 3rd edition. Vences & Glaw Verlag, Köln, 496 pp. Heying, H.E. (2001): Mantella laevigata (climbing Mantella). Aborted predation. Herpetological Review 32: 34. about two minutes to swallow the skink entirely (Figure Jovanovic, O., Vences, M., Safarek, G., Rabemananjara, F.C.E., 2D). The skink was alive during the entire swallowing Dolch, R. (2009): Predation upon Mantella aurantiaca in the Torotorofotsy wetlands, central-eastern Madagascar. process, and tried to escape without success. It is Herpetology Notes 2: 95–97. interesting to note that the predator did not consume Kaloloha, A., Misandeau, C. & Gerhing, P.-S. (2011). Notes on the the autotomized tail, which rapidly became a point of diversity and natural history of the snake fauna of Ambodiriana- attraction for ants. Manompana, a protected rainforest site in north-eastern The third observation occurred in October 26th 2013 at Madagascar. Herpetology Notes 4: 397–402.– around 18:30 h along a slow moving stream in a closed Knoll, A., Glaw, F., Köhler, J. (2009): The Malagasy snake canopy humid forest of Bemanevika (14°22’57.6”S, Pseudoxyrhopus ambreensis preys upon chameleon eggs by 48°35’15.2”E, 1517 m a.s.l.), in northern Madagascar. shell slitting. Herpetology Notes 2: 161–162. Mercurio, V., Mattioli, F., Razafindrabe, T.J., Andreone, F. A large-bodied frog, Mantidactylus guttulatus (about 90 (2006). A possible attempt of predation of Liophidium vaillanti mm snout vent length), preyed upon a crab (Figure 3). upon Dromicodryas bernieri observed in central-southern Both predator and prey are water dwelling species, living Madagascar. (Serpentes: Colubridae). Salamandra 42 (1/2): in calm flowing water habitat associated with rocks and 181–83. stones. Both are nocturnal and quite commonly seen in Myers, N., Mittermeier, R.A., Mittermeier, C.G., da Fonseca, this region, sympatric with other aquatic vertebrates, G.A.B., Kent, J. (2000): Biodiversity hotspots for conservation including other frog species and aquatic invertebrates. priorities. Nature 403: 853–858. Pyke, G.H., Ahyong, S.T., Fuessel, A., Callaghan, S. (2013). During a nocturnal search for amphibians and reptiles Marine crabs eating freshwater frogs: Why are such observations in a riparian habitat we observed a Mantidactylus so rare? Herpetology Notes 6: 195–199. guttulatus individual on an emerged rock consuming a Raxworthy, C.J., Nussbaum, R.A. (1994): A review of the large crab. According to the position and orientation of Madagascan snake genera Pseudoxyrhopus, Pararhadinea, the claws of the crab, the frog started swallowing his and Heteroliodon (Squamata: Colubridae). Miscellaneous prey from the abdomen. This seems to be an effective Publication Museum of Zoology the University of Michigan strategy to avoid the contact with the chelipeds of 182: 1–37. the crab and facilitate its ingestion. Interestingly, the Rosa, G.M., Mercurio, V., Crottini, A., Andreone, F. (2010): Predation of the snake Leioheterodon modestus (Günther, 1863) freshwater crab (Hydrothelphusa sp.) has already been upon the microhylid frog Scaphiophryne gottlebei Busse & reported as a predator of the treefrog Boophis rufioculis Böhme, 1992 at Isalo, southern Madagascar. Herpetology Notes in Betampona, eastern Madagascar (Rosa et al., 2014) 3: 259–61. and, is known to act as a predator of tadpoles and eggs Rosa, G.M., Sabino-Pinto, J., Jean Noël, Andreone, F. (2014): of amphibians globally (Pyke et al., 2013). Predation on the treefrog Boophis rufioculis (Anura, Mantellidae) by the freshwater crab Hydrothelphusa sp. (Decapoda, Potamonautidae) in Madagascar. Crustaceana 87 (7): 890–894. 662 Achille Philippe Raselimanana Rosa, G.M., Branco, J.C., Couto, H., Bergò, P.E., Andreone, F. (2016). Mimophis mahfalensis (common big-eyed snake) predation on Furcifer major (giant carpet chameleon) in Isalo, Madagascar.