Diet and feeding behavior of the parrot snake Leptophis nigromarginatus (Günther, 1866) (Serpentes, Colubridae)

Dieta e comportamento alimentar da cobra-papagaio Leptophis nigromarginatus (Günther, 1866) (Serpentes, Colubridae)

Abstract

Specimens (50) of Leptophis nigromarginatus from northern Brazil, Peru, Ecuador and Colombia were examined for the composition of stomach contents. Most prey items were tree frogs, especially those of the family Hylidae (96%). Most of the anurans identified belong to the Scinax ruber species group (14%) and Scinax sp. (8%). Both sexes preyed on small-sized items (1.8–4.4% of snake snout-vent length), but females capture larger prey than males. Leptophis nigromarginatus seems to manipulate captured prey before ingestion since most of the prey items (68%) were swallowed head-first. There is a positive correlation between female snout-vent length and prey size and between and head length and prey size.

Keywords
Diet; Feeding behavior; Anura; Parrot snake; Leptophis nigromarginatus