Feeding ecology of Erythrolamprus jaegeri jaegeri (Günter, 1858) and Erythrolamprus poecilogyrus sublineatus (Cope, 1860) in the coastal zone of Subtropical Brazil (Serpentes, Dipsadidae)

Abstract

The snakes Erythrolamprus jaegeri jaegeri and Erythrolamprus poecilogyrus sublineatus are sympatric and syntopic in the coastal region of southern Brazil. Herein, we analyzed the diet composition to evaluate the niche breadth and the prey selection by both species. We examined 192 specimens, and analysis of stomach contents revealed that both species predominantly consume anurans. However, the diet of E. j. jaegeri consists mainly of fi sh and amphibians, whereas that of E. p. sublineatus is broader, including fi sh, amphibians, reptiles and mammals. The Standardized Levins Index presented lower values for E. j. jaegeri (BA = 0.17) than for E. p. sublineatus (BA = 0.61), evidencing specialist and generalist strategies for each species, respectively. Regarding prey selection, E. p. sublineatus presented a larger snout-vent length, head, mouth and lower jaw than E. j. jaegeri and fed on larger prey. In addition, positive correlations between the size and weight of predators and prey were confi rmed in both species. The results show the development of different mechanisms for co-occurrence of the two species, such as prey selection by size, such that the size of the predator is related to the size of their prey, or by developing different strategies to decrease niche overlap between species.

Evaluation of sperm quality of Erythrolamprus poecilogyrus sublineatus (Cope, 1860) (Serpentes, Dipsadidae)

“…Erythrolamprus poecilogyrus sublineatus (Cope, 1860) is one of the most abundant Dipsadidae species found in the coastal plain of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil (Correa et al, 2016). This species occurs in a variety of habitats, including wetlands, fields, forest and dunes formations, besides of urbanized areas and patches of eucalyptus.…”

Rare and Hungry: Feeding Ecology of the Golden Alpine Salamander, an Endangered Amphibian in the Alps

“…The altitudinal range is narrower in comparison with the nominal subspecies (1200–1850 m asl). In the animal world, differences in dietary ecology may be exhibited among subspecies (e.g., [ 59 , 60 ]) or populations (e.g., [ 61 ]). Considering that the Golden Alpine salamander occurs in a different ecological context in comparison to the other Alpine salamander subspecies, its diet could reflect this ecological uniqueness in terms of diversity and abundance of consumed prey.…”

Predation of a Jumping Frog, Leptodactylus macrosternum Miranda-Ribeiro 1926 (Anura: Leptodactylidae), by a Yellow Curichera, Erythrolamprus poecilogyrus (Wied-Neuwied 1824) (Squamata: Colubridae), in Santísima Trinidad, Beni, Bolivia

“…Details about the capture of this snake are unknown, but after examining the material carefully we were unable to identify any signs that the specimen had been mistreated. Populations of E. poecilogyrus and L. macrosternum are common in the Trinidad region (Rivas et al 2022) and on the Benian Floodplains (Eversole et al 2021); therefore, predator-prey interactions between these two species are likely, and the relationship has been recorded in Argentina (Prieto et al 2012), as has that of E. poecilogyrus and L. latrans in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil (Corrêa et al 2016). The most frequent amphibian prey of E. poecilogyrus registered by Prieto et al (2012) in the wetlands of northern Argentina were bufonids, leptodactylids, and hylids in that order.…”

“…Erythrolamprus poecilogyrus is active during both day and night, and is most frequently documented during the rainy season (Marqués et al 2001;Sawaya et al 2008;Rivas et al 2022). It is a typically terrestrial generalist found in grasslands, forests, caves, cracks, curiches (wetlands), disturbed areas, and even houses (Marqués et al 2001;Sawaya et al 2008;Palmuti et al 2009;Prieto et al 2012;Corrêa et al 2016;Rivas et al 2022). It feeds on fishes, amphibians, reptiles, and mammals; however, its main diet consists of anurans, including eggs and tadpoles (Pinto and Fernandes 2004;Prieto et al 2012;Alencar and Nascimento 2014;Azarak and Farias 2017;Cabral et al 2017;Andrade et al 2020;Oliveira et al 2021;Rivas et al 2022), with leptodactylids accounting for about 30% of documented anuran prey (Corrêa et al 2016).…”