Not armoured enough: The black-and-white tegu Salvator merianae (Squamata: Teiidae) as a predator of armadillos (Cingulata)

Autor(es)

Carvalho, Augusto N. ; Bambirra, Bruno L. de S. ; Passalacqua, Leonardo B. ; Serrano, Filipe C.

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: FOOD WEBS; v. 41, p. 3-pg., 2024-12-01.

Resumo

Reporting predation events is crucial to understand how species behaviour and predator-prey interactions shape food webs. However, data is still lacking for most neotropical fauna, especially reptiles. Salvator merianae is a widespread lizard species, which is often found in human-altered habitats and has been introduced in multiple locations. This Neotropical lizard is omnivorous and acts as a necrophagous, seed disperser and predator of small- sized animals. However, in spite of extensive data on its generalist diet, detailed predation records over mediumsized vertebrates (between 1 and 40 kg) are scarce. Here we report the first records of S. merianae predation on three distinct armadillo species, all of which occurred in human-altered habitats in Brazil and Argentina. Our records contribute to a better understanding of trophic interactions in modified landscapes and how large reptiles, such as S. merianae, may play an important role in food webs in the absence of larger predators. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 23/06999-1 - Fatores responsáveis pela vulnerabilidade à extinção em anfíbios brasileiros: contribuições para a conservação
• Beneficiário: Filipe Alexandre Cabreirinha Serrano
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Pós-Doutorado