Pet Food: A New Food Item for Rhinella diptycha (Cope, 1862) (Anura: Bufonidae) in Brazil

Authors: Sousa BA*, Benício RA and Fonseca MG

DOI: 10.23880/izab-16000588

Volume 7, Issue 3

Abstract

Rhinella diptycha (Cope, 1862) is a large anuran from the Bufonidae family, widely distributed in Brazil, occurring in open natural areas and urbanized regions. Its diet is mainly composed of insects, but it is known as a generalist species that consumes any available food resources. In this case report, we occasionally recorded individuals of Rhinella diptycha (in italics) (juveniles and adults) in two different regions of Brazil feeding on pet food on the ground. After observation, a female Rhinella diptycha (in italics) was collected and taken to the Laboratory of Herpetology and Parasitology of Wild Animals for diet analysis. Thirty-two prey items were identified in its stomach, in which “pet food” was the category with the highest volume (V = 55.1%) followed by Caribidae (V = 34.8%) and Formicidae (9.8%). Pet food was also the most representative item (N = 62.5%) followed by Formicidae (N = 34.3%) and Caribidae (3.1%). This is the first record in Brazil of an amphibian eating pet food. The results may be related to the urban environment, where they were recorded, as well as the presence of domestic animals in the environment. Here, we describe the unusual diet of this species, reinforcing its opportunistic nature.

Keywords: Diet; Rhinella diptycha; Bufonidae; Pet Food; Natural History

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