EFFICIENCY OF DEATH FEIGNING: ANTIPREDATOR MECHANISMS IN Pristimantis ramagii (ANURA: STRABOMANTIDAE) DURING A PREDATION ATTEMPT BY Chironius flavolineatus (SERPENTES: COLUBRIDAE)

Kevin Anderson Cirilo da Silva; Ricardo Lourenço-De-Moraes; Jéssica Monique da Silva Amaral; Élida Francisco da Silva; Vanessa do Nascimento Barbosa; Frederico Gustavo Rodrigues França

doi:10.22201/fc.25942158e.2024.4.1059

Authors

Kevin Anderson Cirilo da Silva Universidade Federal da Paraíba
Ricardo Lourenço-De-Moraes
Jéssica Monique da Silva Amaral Universidade Federal da Paraíba
Élida Francisco da Silva Universidade Federal da Paraíba
Vanessa do Nascimento Barbosa Universidade Federal da Paraíba
Frederico Gustavo Rodrigues França Universidade Federal da Paraíba

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22201/fc.25942158e.2024.4.1059

Keywords:

Boettger's sipo, defensive tactics, diet, herpetofauna, prey

Abstract

This study documents the death feigning behavior in the Paraíba Robber Frog (Pristimantis ramagii) in ex-situ conditions when confronted with a predation attempt by the non-venomous snake Boettger's Sipo (Chironius flavolineatus). Despite being preyed by the snake, the amphibian’s antipredator mechanism was efficient in avoiding predation while executed. Our findings stated the of this behaviour in P. ramagii and underscored the adaptive significance of death feigning in enhancing prey survival during predatory encounters in natural conditions.

Author Biographies

Kevin Anderson Cirilo da Silva, Universidade Federal da Paraíba

Mestrado em ciências biológicas

Jéssica Monique da Silva Amaral, Universidade Federal da Paraíba

Mestre em Ecologia e Monitoramento Ambiental

Élida Francisco da Silva, Universidade Federal da Paraíba

Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Monitoramento Ambiental

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