PREDATION OF SCOLOPENDRA VIRIDICORNIS (NEWPORT 1844) (CHILOPODA, SCOLOPENDRIDAE) BY BOTHROPS ERYTHROMELAS (AMARAL 1923) (SQUAMATA, VIPERIDAE) IN THE CAATINGA, NORTHEAST BRAZIL
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.4257/oeco.2022.2601.07Keywords:
centipede, diet, roadkill, snake, venomousAbstract
Bothrops erythromelas is a terrestrial Viperidae snake that feeds mainly on small lizards, anurans and mammals. Scolopendra viridicornis is a highly venomous centipede with a strictly carnivorous diet, feeding on invertebrates and even small vertebrates. On March 1th, 2016, during a herpetological survey we observed a subadult male B. erythromelas road-killed with a dead centipede popping out from its body. We believe that the centipede was ingested by the snake, and broke out through the snake's body when it was run over. Our report is the first predation record between these two venomous species.
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