Hábitos alimentares de Trachycephalus typhonius (Linnaeus, 1758) na Serra de Maranguape, nordeste do Brasil

Abstract

The diet constitutes one of the most important ecological aspects of a species since this factor is essential for understanding its life history, habitat use, and relationship with other individuals. Thus, we present here information on the diet of Trachycephalus typhonius, a widely distributed amphibian species in South America, however, there are still gaps in knowledge about the natural history of this species. Thus, this study aimed to describe the feeding habits of T. typhonius in a wet enclave of northeast Brazil, testing the influence of sex on the composition and volume of prey, as well as the relationship between body size and mouth width in the volume of prey consumed. We analyzed the stomachs of 24 specimens of T. typhonius collected in the Serra de Maranguape in the state of Ceará, Northeast Brazil. We identified 56 prey items divided into 11 categories, with Coleoptera, Orthoptera, and plant material being the most important items for the species' diet. In general, we found no significant differences in the diet composition of T. typhonius between the sexes. In addition, we observed that individuals with a wider mouth select more voluminous prey items, but body mass and SCL do not influence this choice. This study contributes to the understanding of the trophic ecology and natural history of this anuran and constitutes the first record of the feeding composition of this hylid in mountainous regions in the Brazilian semi-arid.