MELANOPHRYNISCUS CUPREUSCAPULARIS (NCN). DIET

DURÉ, M. I.; KEHR, A. I.

HERPETOLOGICAL REVIEW

Society for the Studies of Ampphibians and Reptiles

Año: 2006 vol. 37 p. 338 - 338

0018-084X

MELANOPHRYNISCUS CUPREUSCAPULARIS (NCN). nIET. Melanophryniscus cupreuscapularis is found in areas SUfrounding the type locality, in northeastem Corrientes, Argentina (Frost 2004. http://research.amnh.org/herpetology/amphibia/ index.html). The species is primarily terrestrial although during the reproductive season it is found in temporary pools in groups ofup to 10 individuals. Males vocalize while hidden in vegetation or floating on the surface of the water. Diet of this species has not been reported. Twenty individual s were collected 15 km NW of Corrientes (27"28´S, 58°50´W), Corrientes, Argentina between luly 1997 and April1999. Twelve individuals contained identifiable prey items (female: 22.08 ± 1.81 mm SVL, N = 5; males: 21.82 ± 0.76 mm SVL, N = 7). Ants were the predominant prey in number (66.2%) and volume (85.8%), although beetles were found in the highest frequency. Table 1 summarizes data obtained by analysis of the stomach content. The values of diversity (Shannon Index, using naturallogarithm) and niche amplitude (Levins index) for this species were 1.15 and 2.13. We used a non-parametric test (Spearman Rank Correlation) for analysis of morphology and diet. We observed a positive and significant correlation between SVL and mouth width (r = 0.68; = 0.015); the number ofprey ingested was significantly correlated with predator SVL (r = 0.76, P = 0.004). Mouth width was not correlated with prey volume (r = 0.063, p = 0.84). Data from specimens examined during this study suggest Melanophryniscus cupreuscapularis is a generalized predator, active1yforaging preferentially for ants. Submitted by MARTA l. DURÉ and ARTURO l. KEHR, Centro de Ecología Aplicada del Litoral (CECOAL-CONlCET), C.C. 291, (3400) Corrientes, Argentina; e-mail: martadure@yahoo.com.