PHRYNOHYAS VENULOSA (Veined Treefrog). DIET.

DURÉ, M. I.; KEHR, A. I.

HERPETOLOGICAL REVIEW

Society for the Studies of Amphibians and Reptiles

Año: 2006 vol. 37 p. 338 - 339

0018-084X

PHRYNOHYAS VENULOSA (Veined Treefrog). DIET. Phrynohyas venulosa has a wide distribution in Central and South America, ranging fram the lowlands of Mexico to the Amazon Basin of Colombia, Ecuador, Pero, Venezuela, and Brazi1; the Guianas, Brazil, Paraguay, Trinidad, and Tobago (Frost 2004. http:/ Iresearch.amnh.org/herpetology/amphibia/index.htm1). In Argentina, P.venulosa occurs in Jujuy, Salta, Formosa, Chaco, Corrientes, and Entre Ríos y Misiones (Cei 1980. Amphibians of Argentina. Monitore Zoologico Italiano MS). We examined the stomach contents of20 specimens collected 15 km NW ofCorrientes (27°28´S, 58°50´W), Corrientes, Argentina, between Febroary 1994 and March 1999. Only 35% (N = 7) had identifiable stomach contents (males: 64.4 ± 16.3 mm SVL, N = 3; females: 76.6 ± 5.7 mm SVL,N=4). Ants were the predominant prey in number and beetles were be1ter represented volumetrical1y. Table 1 summarizes data obtained by analysis of the stomach contents. The values of diversity (Shannon Index, using naturallogarithm) and niche amplitude (Levins index) for this species were 1.15 and 2.08. Due to the low number of specimens with identifiable prey we used a non-parametric test (Spearman Rank Correlation) for analysis of morpho10gy and diet. A positive and significant correlation exists between SVL and mouth width (r = 0.85; p = 0.01). The number of prey ingested was not correlated with predator SVL (rs :=0.05, P :;::0.90) and mouth width was not correlated with prey volume (r- :;;:0.53, p :;::0.21). Phrynohyas venulosa is an arboreal frog with low mobility. Based on diet and observed behavior of the specimens examined in this study it should be considered a generalized predator with "sit-and-wait" strategy for obtaining prey.