Herpetology Notes, volume 7: 721-722 (2014) (published online on 21 December 2014) Predation of White Anole (Anolis laeviventris) by Blue-crowned motmot (Momotus momota) in a montane forest reserve in Veracruz, Mexico Adriana Sandoval-Comte*, Alma Patricia Degante-González and Diego Santiago-Alarcon Anole lizards are common, widely distributed, and a dead lizard in its beak (Figure 1). The lizard was they are eaten by spiders, frogs, other lizards, snakes, identified as a female Anolis laeviventris (the dewlap birds, and mammals (Losos and Greene, 2009). Anolis was not well-developed as in males, but we were able laeviventris is distributed from Southeastern Mexico to observe the characteristic coloration of the species), to Central America (EOL, 2014). Here we report a a common reptile in this region that is characterized by predation event on an adult A. laeviventris by a Blue- having a white dewlap. Adults and juveniles are usually crowned motmot (Momotus momota). The White anole found foraging on leaves, which is the period when is a common arboreal lizard in the central region of Veracruz, Mexico. Its natural history is poorly known, however, and we have no information regarding its ecological interactions. The members of the genus Momotus (Aves: Momotidae) are large and sedentary birds presumably requiring less relative energy intake compared to smaller birds (Jones 2009). M. momota is found mostly in cloud montane forest (Orejuela, 1980) of Middle and South America (Greeney et al., 2006, Snow 2001, Stiles 2009, Skutch 1945). M. momota is omnivorous, feeding mainly on arthropods and fruits, its diet may also include frogs (Master 1999), snakes (Stiles and Skutch 1989), mammals (Delgado-V. and Brooks, 2003; Chacón- Madrigal and Barrantes, 2004; Greeney et al., 2006; Sandoval et al., 2008), and other birds (García-C and Zahawi, 2006). During a study on 1 September 2014 at 10:10 am in a montane forest fragment within the protected area Parque Francisco Javier Clavijero at Xalapa Municipality, Veracruz, Mexico (19.514511°, -96.938361°), an adult M. momota was captured in a mist net carrying Red de Biología y Conservación de Vertebrados, Instituto de Ecología, A. C. Carretera antigua a Coatepec 351, El Haya, Figure 1. The Blue-crowned motmot (Momotus momota) Xalapa 91070, Veracruz, México. before it was released with its prey White Anole (Anolis * Correspondence author; e-mail: [email protected] laeviventris). 722 Adriana Sandoval-Comte et al. they are at higher risk of being predated. We released Poulin, B., Lefebvre, G., Ibáñez, R., Jaramillo, C., Hernández, C., the Blue-crowned motmot after it was processed Rand, A.S. (2001): Avian predation upon lizards and frogs in a along with its prey. Records of birds eating anoles is neotropical forest understorey. Journal of Tropical Ecology 17: 21-40. not new (Wunderle, 1981; Adolph and Roughgarden, Sandoval, L., Biamonte, E., Solano-Ugalde, A. (2008): Previously 1983; McLaughlin and Roughgarden, 1989; Aborn unknown food items in the diet of six neotropical bird species. and Froehlich, 1995; Poulin et al., 2001; Delgado-V The Wilson Journal of Ornithology 120: 214-216. and Brooks, 2003; Sykes et al., 2007); however, after Skutch, A.F. (1945): Life history of the blue-throated green our literature review we find this is the first report of a motmot. Auk 62:489-517. predation event on A. laeviventris by M. momota, and Snow, D.W. (2001): Family Momotidae (motmots). In Handbook more generally by any other bird species. Moreover, we of the birds of the world. Volume 6: Mousebirds to hornbills. del Hoyo, J., Elliot, A., Sargatal, J. Eds., Barcelona. Lynx Editions. did not find any other report on natural predators for this Stiles, F.G., Skutch, A.F. (1989): A guide to the birds of Costa species of lizard. Rica. 1st Edition, Ithaca. Comstock Publishing Associates. Stiles, F.G. (2009): A review of the genus Momotus (Coraciiformes: Acknoledgements. DS-A was supported by CONACYT grant Momotidae) in northern South America and adjacent areas. CB-2011-01-168524 and ASC by INECOL, A.C. through money Ornitología Colombiana 8: 29-75. provided to conduct an academic workshop. Sykes Jr, P.W., Atherton, L.S., Payne, R.L. (2007): Yellow- throated and Red-eyed Vireos foraging on Green Anoles during References migration. The Wilson Journal of Ornithology 119: 508-510. Wunderle, J.M. Jr. (1981): Avian predation upon Anolis lizards on Aborn, D.A., Froehlich, D. (1995): An observation of a Summer Grenada, West Indies. Herpetologica 37: 104–108. Tanager attempting to eat an Anolis lizard. Journal of Field Ornithology 66:501–502. Adolph, S.C., Roughgarden, J. (1983): Foraging by Passerine birds and Anolis lizards on St. Eustatius (Neth. Antilles): Implications for interclass competition, and predation. Oecologia 56: 313- 317. Chacón-Madrigal, G., Barrantes, G. (2004): Blue-crowned Motmot (Momotus momota) predation on a long-tongued bat (Glossophaginae). Wilson Bulletin 116: 108-110. Delgado-V., C.A., Brooks, D.M. (2003): Unusual vertebrate prey taken by Neotropical birds. Ornitología Colombiana 1: 63–65. EOL (Encyclopedia of Life). Available from http://eol.org/ pages/791326/overviewhttp://eol.org/pages/460427. +Last accessed 15 Sep 2014. García-C, J.M., Zahawi, R.A. (2006). Predation by a blue-crowned motmot (Momotus momota) on a hummingbird. The Wilson Journal of Ornithology 118: 261-263. Greeney, H.F., Jamieson, L.H., Dobbs, R.C., Martin, P.R., Gelis, R.A. (2006): Observations on the nest, eggs, and natural history of the highland motmot (Momotus aequatorialis) in eastern Ecuador. Ornitología Neotropical 17:1-4. Jones, K.A., Krebs, J.R., Whittingham, M.J. 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