Diet of the large water snake Hydrodynastes gigas (Colubridae) from northeast Argentina

López, María Luisa García; Giraudo, Alejandro R.

doi:10.1163/1568538041231148

Cited by 19 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…In addition to low sample sizes, larger‐bodied reptilian predators tend to feed infrequently, and the likelihood of collecting specimens with empty stomachs is high (Losos & Greene, ; Huey, Pianka & Vitt, ; Dalhuijsen et al , ). Forty‐one per cent of our specimens contained no prey items, as is commonly reported amongst studies of reptilian diet (Patchell & Shine, ; Strahan et al , ; López & Giraudo, ), with some studies of varanid diet report up to 66% of dissected specimens without stomach contents (Schmidt, ; Campbell, ; Dalhuijsen et al , ).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 66%

“…Specimen scarcity is a common issue amongst studies of varanids, even amongst those assessing specimens across large collection regions (Losos & Greene, ; James et al , ; Guarino, ; Dalhuijsen et al , ). This issue is not restricted to varanids but is common across the literature assessing reptile diet (Strahan et al , ; Holycross & Mackessy, ; López & Giraudo, ). In addition to low sample sizes, larger‐bodied reptilian predators tend to feed infrequently, and the likelihood of collecting specimens with empty stomachs is high (Losos & Greene, ; Huey, Pianka & Vitt, ; Dalhuijsen et al , ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We were limited to dissecting a total of 78 specimens (22 V. tristis, 40 V. gouldii and 16 V. panoptes). Sample sizes of this magnitude are a common constraint amongst studies of reptile diets, including those assessing varanid diet (Strahan, How & Dell, 1998;Guarino, 2001;L opez & Giraudo, 2004;Dalhuijsen et al, 2014), and our sample sizes are comparable to those of other studies (Losos & Greene, 1988;James, Losos & King, 1992;Dalhuijsen et al, 2014). We assessed the adequacy of sample sizes for each species using species accumulation curves in PAST (Version 3.25, Hammer et al, 2001).…”

Section: Study Site and Speciesmentioning

confidence: 98%

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I don’t like crickets, I love them: invertebrates are an important prey source for varanid lizards

et al. 2019

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Minimal annual rainfall in arid environments results in low productivity ecosystems with fluctuating food availability. Large mammalian predators that require frequent consumption of vertebrate prey tend to be less abundant in desert environments; however, such environments often support numerous large‐bodied carnivorous reptiles. Diet is a fundamental component of an animal’s ecology, and we explore the diets of three coexisting, sympatric Varanus species occurring in arid Australia: V. tristis, V. gouldii and V. panoptes. We hypothesized that the diet of varanids living in arid environments would primarily consist of relatively abundant invertebrate prey, and that vertebrate prey items would largely be limited to opportunistically consumed mammalian carrion and small reptilian species. All three Varanus species had high dietary overlap and broad, generalist diets. Invertebrate prey, particularly Orthoptera, were key to the diets of all three species. Vertebrate prey was infrequently consumed by all three Varanus species; however, when consumed, tended to comprise small reptilian species and mammalian carrion. Unlike large mammalian predators, varanids can survive on invertebrate prey and infrequent feeds and can aestivate when conditions become unfavourable, contributing to their success in arid environments.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 66%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Study Site and Speciesmentioning

confidence: 98%

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I don’t like crickets, I love them: invertebrates are an important prey source for varanid lizards

et al. 2019

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“…In aquatic reptiles, there are generalist species, as turtles, alligators, and some snakes as Hydrodynastes gigas, although aquatic or semi-aquatic preys are an important component of their diet. 72% of preys of Hydrodynastes gigas are aquatic or semi-aquatic vertebrates (López and Giraudo 2004). This species shows specialized behaviors to search for amphibians, using the tail, in shallow water refuges (Strussmann and Sazima 1990).…”

Section: Feeding Strategiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reptiles

Giraudo¹,

Arzamendia²,

López³

2007

The Middle Paraná River

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“…One active individual was captured in restinga at 10:00 and displayed several defensive behaviors such as striking and biting, tail whip, and cloacal discharge. This species eats fishes, anurans, snakes and mammals (López and Giraudo 2004); Oxyrhopuspetolarius – A moderate-sized terrestrial species (SVL = 245 mm; N = 1). The individual found was active in tabuleiro habitat at 18:20.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecological diversity of a snake assemblage from the Atlantic Forest at the south coast of Paraíba, northeast Brazil

Sampaio¹,

Santos²,

França³

et al. 2018

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Despite an increase in studies focusing on snake ecology and composition in the northeastern Atlantic Forest, several poorly studied sites and environments remain. The aim of this study was to assess species richness and natural history attributes of the snakes of an assemblage in the Restinga, Tabuleiro and Forest environments of the Atlantic Forest of the south coast of Paraíba, northeastern Brazil. A total of 151 individuals of 27 species, 23 genera, and six families of snakes were found. The most effective sampling methods were time-constrained searches and incidental encounters. Species sampled most frequently were the blindsnake Epictiaborapeliotes, the Boa Constrictor Boaconstrictor, the Brown Vinesnake Oxybelisaeneus, and the Brazilian False Coral Snake Oxyrhopustrigeminus. The snake fauna is characterized mainly by terrestrial species found in open-area environments of Restinga and Tabuleiro, and with most species feeding on amphibians and small mammals. The rarefaction curve did not reach the asymptote and new species should be recorded for south coast of Paraíba in future studies. Despite the richness and composition of snakes of the south coast being similar to other areas in the state, there is a lack of some species typically linked to forests, and this is probably because of the high level of deforestation that the south area of the state has suffered.

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Diet of the large water snake Hydrodynastes gigas (Colubridae) from northeast Argentina

Cited by 19 publications

References 7 publications

I don’t like crickets, I love them: invertebrates are an important prey source for varanid lizards

I don’t like crickets, I love them: invertebrates are an important prey source for varanid lizards

Reptiles

Ecological diversity of a snake assemblage from the Atlantic Forest at the south coast of Paraíba, northeast Brazil

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