Feeding behavior of Helicops pastazae Shreve 1934 (Serpentes, Colubridae, Dipsadinae) in the Ecuadorian Amazon

Abstract:

Ana Almendáriz C. et al. 450 specimens were found dead in the mesh the next day in the morning between 5 and 6 AM when the mesh was withdrawal. The three water snakes were fixed in 10% formalin and then later preserved in 70% ethanol, following Simmons (2015). Stomach contents of the three specimens of Helicops pastazae were analyzed in the laboratory, previously extracted by dissection when opening the stomach at the level of the third part of the body. Two specimens (MEPN-R 10015, 10325) lacked identifiable food items. The third specimen (MEPN-R 10870; Fig. 2) contained an intact specimen of Hypostomus pyrineusi Miranda-Ribeiro, 1920 (Siluriformes: Loricariidae; MEPN-I 18324; Fig. 3), which was head down in the stomach and covered with gastric secretions. The catfish was preserved in 10% formalin and stored in 70% ethanol. The three specimens of H. pastazae and the catfish are deposited at Division of Herpetology (MEPN-R 10015, 10325, 10870) and Ichthyology (MEPN-I 18324), respectively, of Museo de Historia Natural Gustavo Orcés (MEPN) of the Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas, Escuela Politécnica Nacional. The majority of species of Hypostomus are nocturnal and they hide under rocks during the day (Lowe-McConnell, 1987; Nico, 2010). Hypostomus pyrineusi feeds on detritus by grazing rock substrates (German, 2009; German and Bittong, 2009; Lowe-McConnell, 1987; Nico, 2010).

Año de publicación:

2017

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Fuente:

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