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BIBTEX RIS

Diet and feeding behaviour of the Neotropical parrot snake ( Leptophis ahaetulla ) in northern Brazil

2007; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 41; Issue: 17-20 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1080/00222930701400954

1464-5262

Nelson Rufino de Albuquerque, Ulisses Galatti, Marcos Di-Bernardo,

Turtle Biology and Conservation

Specimens (289) of Leptophis ahaetulla from northern Brazil and western Maranhão were examined for the composition of stomach contents. Most prey items were tree frogs, especially those of the family Hylidae (90%). Most of the anurans identified belong to the Scinax ruber species group (27%) and Scinax sp. (25%). Prey size was significantly related to snake length but not to head length. There was no significant difference related to sex in either case. Both sexes preyed on small to medium‐sized items (3–10% of snake snout–vent length). Leptophis ahaetulla seems to manipulate captured prey before ingestion since most of the prey items (83.6%) were swallowed head‐first. Leptophis ahaetulla is primarily diurnal and semi‐arboreal, inhabits disturbed and undisturbed forest, and forages primarily on the ground and in fallen vegetation, where its prey items are likely to be found at rest.