A Comparison of Predatory Behavior of Newly Hatched <i>Rhabdophis tigrinus</i> (Serpentes: Colubridae) on Frogs and Fish

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  • MORI AKIRA
    Department of Zoology, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University

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  • ヤマカガシ(ヘビ亜目:ナミヘビ科)孵化幼体におけるカエルおよびサカナに対する捕食行動の比較
  • A comparison of predatory behavior of newly hatched Rhabdophis tigrinus(Serpentes:Colubridae)on frogs and fish
  • comparison of predatory behavior of new

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Various sizes of frogs and fish were offered in captivity to examine the effects of prey size and type on predatory behavior of newborns of Rhabdophis tigrinus, which has well-developed Duvernoy's glands. Frogs were more easily captured and handled than fish. There were no clear differences in swallowing efficiency between frogs and fish. Relative prey size did not affect direction of ingestion or condition of prey at ingestion in either prey type. Fish, some of which were dead, tended to be swallowed head first, whereas all frogs were swallowed alive without a preference for direction of ingestion. In frogs, direction of ingestion seemed to largely depend on initial bite position. In either prey type, direction of ingestion did not affect swallowing duration. Death of the fish seemed to be related to longer handling duration. Except for the absence of head first ingestion of frogs, neonate R. tigrinus seemed to be more efficient in frog handling than fish handling.

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