Food Habits of the Introduced Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina) in the Imbanuma Basin, Chiba Prefecture, Central Japan

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  • 千葉県印旛沼水系における外来種カミツキガメ(Chelydra serpentina)の食性
  • チバケン インバヌマ スイケイ ニ オケル ガイライシュ カミツキガメ(Chelydra serpentina)ノ ショクセイ

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Abstract

Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina), designated by law as an invasive alien species in Japan, is a large fresh-water turtle native to North America. Because this species is larger in body- and clutch-size than Japanese native turtles, the impact through predation and interspecific competition on lake ecosystem are expected to be considerably large, This study examined the stomach contents using individuals killed in the project by the Ministry of Environment to exterminate the Snapping Turtle in Imba-numa, Chiba Prefecture. The specimens showed omnivory by consuming a wide range of food from animals to plants. The most abundant prey items were the Red Swamp Crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) and Common Reed (Phragmites australis). Significant sex- and size-differences in food contents were not found. However, only larger individuals preyed on larger vertebrates such as Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis) and Small Japanese Mole (Mogera imaizumii).

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