Feeding ecology of the terciopelo (Bothrops asper) in Ecuador

Abstract

Abstract:Thoroughly documenting prey items and diet composition is crucial for understanding a predator s role in the ecosystem. In gape restricted predators such as snakes, documenting and analyzing the type and size of the prey is important to understand their role in the ecosystem. We document the diet patterns of Ecuadorian populations of a species of venomous snake, the terciopelo pitviper (Bothrops asper). Through an extensive sampling of the Pacific lowlands of Ecuador, we encountered 69 identifiable prey items from four major taxonomic groups (centipedes, amphibians, reptiles and mammals). We evaluated the observed composition of prey to check for differences between sexes and life stages. To complement our observations of the terciopelo species complex along their distribution, we carried out a systematic bibliographic research. Our data shows an ontogenic shift in diet, as well as significant differences between sexes at all stages, which supports the hypothesis that sexual dimorphism is a result of distinct niche occupation.