GREEN BASILISK Basiliscus plumifrons (SQUAMATA: CORYTOPHANIDAE) PREYING ON THE MASKED TREE FROG Smilisca phaeota (ANURA: HYLIDAE) IN COSTA RICA

Sergio Armando Villegas Retana; Luis Fernández Sánchez

doi:10.22201/fc.25942158e.2026.1.1468

Autores/as

Sergio Armando Villegas Retana Universidad de Costa Rica https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9579-1479
Luis Fernández Sánchez

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22201/fc.25942158e.2026.1.1468

Palabras clave:

Anfibio, comportamiento, depredador, dieta, ecología

Resumen

Reportamos el primer evento de depredación de la Rana Arborícola Enmascarada Smilisca phaeota por el Basilisco Verde Basiliscus plumifrons en Costa Rica. Este podría ser un evento oportunista en el que el basilisco aprovechó la oportunidad para cazar a la rana enmascarada mientras descansaba en el suelo. Esta nota contribuye al conocimiento de la depredación, la dieta y las interacciones de ambas especies.

Citas

Alvarado, R., & Mora, J. M. (2023). Predation of Sumichrast's vesper rat (Nyctomys sumichrasti) by the lizard Basiliscus plumifrons. Therya Notes, 4, 171–176. https://doi.org/10.12933/therya_notes-23-125

Alvarado, R., Alvarado, E. V., López, L. I., Umaña, D., & Mora, J. M. (2022). Predation of a juvenile iguana Iguana rhinolopha (Squamata: Iguanidae) by Basiliscus plumifrons (Squamata: Corytophanidae) in the Costa Rican rainforest. Caribbean Journal of Science, 52(2), 203–208. https://doi.org/10.18475/cjos.v52i2.a7

Cover, J. F., Jr. (1986). Life history notes: Basiliscus plumifrons (Crested Green Basilisk Lizard). Herpetological Review, 17(1), 19.

Cubas-Rodríguez, A. M., Antúnez-Fonseca, C. A., Muñoz-Ruíz, J. R., Martínez, M., & Cupul-Magaña, F. G. (2024). Birds as predators of herpetofauna: Record of seven cases from Costa Rica and Honduras. Herpetology Notes, 17, 517–520.

Fleet, R. R., & Fitch, H. S. (1974). Food habits of Basiliscus basiliscus in Costa Rica. Journal of Herpetology, 8(3), 260–262. https://doi.org/10.2307/1563180

Gil-González, S., Londoño-Quiceno, C. A., Rojas-Rivera, M. A., & Gutiérrez-Cárdenas, P. D. A. (2022). Smilisca phaeota (Cope, 1862). Catálogo de Anfibios y Reptiles de Colombia, 8, 69–92.

Gutiérrez-Campos, P. J., & Gil Carrasco, R. G. (2023). Predatory behavior of the Yellow-spotted Keelback (Chironius flavopictus) in the Golfito Wildlife Reserve, Costa Rica. Reptiles & Amphibians, 30(1), e18244. https://doi.org/10.17161/randa.v30i1.18244

Hawley, T. J. (2009). The ecological significance and incidence of intraguild predation and cannibalism among anurans in ephemeral tropical pools. Copeia, 2009(4), 748–757. https://doi.org/10.1643/CP-08-114

Heyer, W. R., & McDiarmid, R. W., & Weigmann, D. L. (1975). Tadpoles, predation, and pond habitats in the tropics. Biotropica, 7(2), 100–111. https://doi.org/10.2307/2989753

Hirth, H. F. (1963). Food of Basiliscus plumifrons on a tropical strand. Herpetologica, 18(3), 276–277.

Kober, I. (2012). Basiliscus plumifrons, der Stirnlappenbasilisk: Erfahrungen aus 20 Jahren Haltung und Vermehrung im Terrarium. Teil 1: Einrichtung und Technik. Terraria-Elaphe, 7(2), 36–45.

Leenders, T. (2016). Amphibians of Costa Rica: A field guide. Cornell University Press.

Leenders, T. (2019). Reptiles of Costa Rica: a field guide. Cornell University Press.

Marchisin, A., & Anderson, J. D. (1978). Strategies employed by frogs and toads (Amphibia, Anura) to avoid predation by snakes (Reptilia, Serpentes). Journal of Herpetology, 12(2), 151–155. https://doi.org/10.2307/1563401

Quirós Rosales, M., Mora, J. M., & Alvarado, R. (2023). Predation of Lepidophyma flavimaculatum (Squamata: Xantusiidae) by Basiliscus plumifrons (Squamata: Corytophanidae). Phyllomedusa: Journal of Herpetology, 22(1), 69–74. https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.2316-9079.v22i1p69-74

Roberto, I. J., & Souza, A. R. (2020). Review of prey items recorded for snakes of the genus Chironius (Squamata, Colubridae), including the first record of Osteocephalus as prey. Herpetology Notes, 13, 1–5. https://doi.org/10.33256/hn.1320

Sasa, M., Wasko, D. K., & Lamar, W. W. (2009). Natural history of the terciopelo Bothrops asper (Serpentes: Viperidae) in Costa Rica. Toxicon, 54(7), 904–922. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxicon.2009.05.005

Savage, J. M. (2002). The amphibians and reptiles of Costa Rica: A herpetofauna between two continents, between two seas. The University of Chicago Press.

Villegas, S., & Elizondo Montano, C. (2025). Predation of the Red-eyed Treefrog Agalychnis callidryas (Anura: Hylidae) by the Central American Bullfrog Leptodactylus savagei (Anura: Leptodactylidae), Costa Rica. Revista Latinoamericana de Herpetología, 8(2), 170–173. https://doi.org/10.22201/fc.25942158e.2025.2.1211

Villegas-Retana, S., & Fernández Sánchez, L. (2024). Predation of the Green Iguana Iguana rhinolopha (Squamata: Iguanidae) by the Rufous Motmot Baryphthengus martii (Coraciiformes: Momotidae), Costa Rica. Revista Latinoamericana de Herpetología, 7(1), 30–34. https://doi.org/10.22201/fc.25942158e.2024.4.1069