A Centipede (Scolopendra dehaani) feeding on a juvenile Andaman Wolfsnake (Lycodon hypsirhinoides) on Havelock islands, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India

Vazifdar, Nariman; Khalid, Monowar Alam; D’Costa, Mervyn

doi:10.17161/randa.v28i2.15607

Cited by 2 publications

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References 2 publications

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“…Despite the continued thrashing, the snake was unable to escape during the observation period, which lasted about 20 min. Although unable to witness the entire predatory event, the centipede likely killed and ate the snake, as in previously documented scolopendrid-snake predation events (Mirza and Ahmed 2009;Chiacchio et al 2017;Ortiz-Catedral et al 2021;Vazifdar et al 2021). Encounters between predators and prey are rarely observed in nature, most observations are fortuitous (e.g., Brugger 1989).…”

Section: T a B L E O F C O N T E N T S F E A T U R E A R T I C L E Smentioning

confidence: 73%

Predation on a McClung’s Philippine False Coralsnake, Hemibungarus mcclungi (Weigmann 1835), by a Giant Spiny Centipede, Scolopendra spinosissima Kraepelin 1903, on Luzon Island, The Philippines

Acuña¹,

Isagani

Pitogo³

2021

RandA

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Section: T a B L E O F C O N T E N T S F E A T U R E A R T I C L E Smentioning

confidence: 73%

Predation on a McClung’s Philippine False Coralsnake, Hemibungarus mcclungi (Weigmann 1835), by a Giant Spiny Centipede, Scolopendra spinosissima Kraepelin 1903, on Luzon Island, The Philippines

Acuña¹,

Isagani

Pitogo³

2021

RandA

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“…1). Centipedes are known to prey on insects, amphibians, reptiles, small birds, bats, and rodents (e.g., Vazifdar et al 2021). In particular, species of Scolopendra are ferocious predators that use a neurotoxic venom and strong jaws to immobilize and kill their prey (Hodge and Goodyear 2021).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Predation on Zaw's Wolf Snake (Lycodon zawi) by a Malaysian Cherry Red Centipede (Scolopendra dehaani)

Deb

Sinha

Purkayastha³

2023

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Z aw's Wolfsnake (Lycodon zawi) has been recorded from the northeastern states of India (Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura), Myanmar, and Bangladesh (Uetz et al. 2022). These snakes have a dark brown dorsum with white transverse bands, a cream-colored venter, and 17 dorsal scale rows at midbody (Slowinski et al. 2001). The species is found in low-to mid-elevation moist tropical evergreen to semievergreen forests at elevations lower than 500 m in India and Myamar (Slowinski et al. 2001).Very little is known about the prey and predators of the species. Slowinski et al. ( 2001) mentioned feeding on skinks (likely Sphenomorphus maculatus) and geckos(Hemidactylus frenatus and H. garnotii) in captivity. However, no report documents predation on L. zawi.Herein we report predation on L. zawi by an invertebrate. At 2210 h on 23 June 2022, we encountered a Malaysian Cherry Red Centipede (Scolopendra dehaani) about 200 mm in length preying on a L. zawi about 350 mm in length in a residential area of Narengi in Guwahati, Assam, India (26.1764 N, 91.8340 E). By 2345 h, the centipede escaped after devouring much of the snake's body (Fig. 1).Centipedes are known to prey on insects, amphibians, reptiles, small birds, bats, and rodents (e.g., Vazifdar et al. 2021). In particular, species of Scolopendra are ferocious predators that use a neurotoxic venom and strong jaws to immobilize and kill their prey (Hodge and Goodyear 2021). Vazifdar et al. ( 2021) recorded a S. dehaani preying on an Andaman Wolfsnake (Lycodon hypsirhinoides) from Havelock Island, Andaman Islands, India. To our knowledge, this is the first record of S. dehaani preying on L. zawi and the second documented record of S. dehaani preying on a species of Lycodon.

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A Centipede (Scolopendra dehaani) feeding on a juvenile Andaman Wolfsnake (Lycodon hypsirhinoides) on Havelock islands, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India

Cited by 2 publications

References 2 publications

Predation on a McClung’s Philippine False Coralsnake, Hemibungarus mcclungi (Weigmann 1835), by a Giant Spiny Centipede, Scolopendra spinosissima Kraepelin 1903, on Luzon Island, The Philippines

Predation on a McClung’s Philippine False Coralsnake, Hemibungarus mcclungi (Weigmann 1835), by a Giant Spiny Centipede, Scolopendra spinosissima Kraepelin 1903, on Luzon Island, The Philippines

Predation on Zaw's Wolf Snake (Lycodon zawi) by a Malaysian Cherry Red Centipede (Scolopendra dehaani)

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