Trophic interactions are fundamental in the regulation of natural communities (Wells, 2007). Amphibians play an important role in trophic chains (Haddad et al., 2008) being preyed upon by a great variety of invertebrates (Almeida, Messas and Cicchi, 2010; Zaracho, 2012) and by vertebrates (Duellman and Trueb, 1994; Toledo, Ribeiro and Haddad, 2007). Predation is one the key processes controlling natural populations of anurans (Duellman and Trueb, 1994) especially when they are aggregated at breeding sites (Pombal Jr., 2007).

Herein we report an opportunistic predation on Leptodactylus macrosternum by Botaurus pinnatus in northeastern Brazil. Although L. macrosternum is widely distributed in northeastern Brazil, there is little information about the biology and ecology of this species. We recorded an adult of Pinnated Bittern heron (B. pinnatus) preying upon a L. macrosternum (Fig. 1) in the locality of “Boa Lembrança” (04º15’58” S and 41º42’14” W), Piripiri, State of Piauí, northeastern Brazil, on 28 July 2011 at 10:08 h.

The predation began around 10:08 h and lasted for about 10 min, during which the frog emitted a distress

call. After a few minutes trying to escape, the frog was completely swallowed by the bird that remained motionless with outstretched neck (Fig. 1D). Then the bird flew. The site of predation is a marsh near springs covered with herbaceous and shrubby vegetation about 20 cm tall. The site is commonly inhabited by breeding frogs and herons. For being a species abundant and widely distributed, the frog L. macrosternum constitutes as a potential prey for many other species, as for freshwater fishes or marine crabs (Andrade et al., 2012). While not specialized in amphibians, Pinnated Bittern heron could be classified as convenience predators, since it feeds on amphibians occasionally depending on their availability (Toledo, Ribeiro and Haddad, 2007). Here we report a trophic link between L. macrosternum and B. pinnatus that could be useful when studying food webs in marshes and contribute with additional information about the ecology of both species.

Acknowledgments. We thank Viviane O. B. Cavalheiro for the English review, Anderson Guzzi for the taxonomic identification of the bird and Glaydston do Nascimento for helping during field work.

References

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Herpetology Notes, volume 6: 201-202 (2013) (published online on 25 May 2013)

Predation on Leptodactylus macrosternum (Anura: Leptodactylidae) by Botaurus pinnatus (Pelecaniformes:

Ardeidae) in Northeastern Brazil

Etielle Barroso de Andrade1*, Sâmia Caroline Araújo Melo2, José Alex da Silva Cunha3

¹Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade e Biotecnologia pela Rede de Biodiversidade e Biotecnologia da Amazônia Legal-BIONORTE, Universidade Federal do Maranhão-UFMA. Av. dos Portugueses s/n, São Luís – MA, CEP: 65085-580, Brazil. E-mail: etlandrade@hotmail.com

²Universidade Estadual do Piauí-UESPI, Campus “Heróis do Jenipapo”, Av. Santo Antônio S/N, Bairro São Luís, Campo Maior-PI, CEP: 64280-000, Brazil. E-mail:samia_caroline@hotmail.com

3Programa Regional de Pós-graduação em Desenvolvimento e Meio Ambiente, Universidade Federal do Piauí (Subprograma, PRODEMA/TROPEN), Av. Universitária, 1310 - Bairro Ininga - Teresina/PI, CEP: 64049-550, Brazil. E-mail: j.alexbio@gmail.com

*Corresponding author.

Etielle Barroso de Andrade et al.202

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Zaracho, V.H. (2012): Predation on Elachistocleis bicolor (Anura: Microhylidae) by Lethocerus annulipes (Heteroptera: Belostomatidae). Herpetology Notes, 5: 227-228.

Figure 1. Predation on Leptodactylus macrosternum by Botaurus pinnatus in northeastern Brazil. A – Capture (10:08 h); B - Handling (10:13 h); C - Ingestion (10:14 h); D - Cryptic behavior of hiding in tall vegetation (10:18 h).

Accepted by Mirco Solé; Managing Editor: Diogo Provete