Keywords :
Limnonectes megastomias
บทคัดย่อ :
On 27 June 2003, a series of L. megastomias was collected from the type locality, a dry evergreen forest at Sakaerat Environmental Research Station, Nakhon Ratchasima Province, Wang Nam Khieo District, Thailand (14.49(degrees)N, 101.87(degrees)E; Indian-Thailand Datum; 645 m). During collecting, an adult male L. megastomias was found to have recently ingested an adult male L. gyldenstolpei, the only other anuran known to co-occur with L. megastomias at
this site. On 15 March 2005, another series of 13 specimens (11 males, 2 females) was collected at the same locality and maintained in captivity until 17 March 2005. Feces from these frogs, containing feathers and other prey items, were preserved as a dietary voucher. Feathers were identified as those of a Leaf Bird, Chloropsis sp. Invertebrate remains were identified as belonging to species of Coleoptera (Carabidae; Scarabidae, 2 spp.; 1 undetermined taxon), Hemiptera (2 undetermined taxa), Hymenoptera (Meliponinae; Formicidae), Isoptera (Termitidae), and Lepidoptera (2 undetermined taxa). Based on personal observations, L. megastomias seems to be a sit-and-wait predator, often found partially submerged in water at the edge of a waterway with only eyes and snout exposed. Occasionally, individuals are seen on the stream bank. These frogs, males in particular, have a relatively large gape, and it is conceivable that a bird landing on the bank of the stream might be consumed in the same opportunistic manner that a conspecific L. gyldenstolpei would be. There are infrequent examples in the literature of anurans preying on birds (Duellman and Trueb 1994. Biology of Amphibians. The John Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, Maryland. 670 pp.). This represents the only account that I am aware of documenting an Asian anuran preying on birds.
เอกสารอ้างอิง :
Mcleod, D. S. (2009). Limnonectes megastomias (Big-mouthed Frog). Diet and Ornithophagy. Herpetological Review 40(2), 2009
