Subterranean ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) as prey of fossorial reptiles (Reptilia, Squamata: Amphisbaenidae) in Central Brazil

Papéis Avulsos de Zoologia (São Paulo)

Flávia De Araújo Esteves¹  Carlos Roberto Ferreira Brandão¹  Karen Viegas¹ 

[1] ,Universidade de São Paulo Museu de Zoologia São Paulo SP ,Brasil

关键词: Amphisbaenians;    Ecitoninae;    Subterranean ants;    Stomach contents;    Anfisbenídeos;    Ecitoninae;    Formigas subterrâneas;    Conteúdo estomacal;   

DOI  :  10.1590/S0031-10492008002800001

来源: SciELO

【 摘 要 】

The ant diversity observed in stomach contents of fossorial reptiles was compared to the subterranean ant richness collected using traditional and modern techniques of ant collections. We analyzed the alimentary tract of 64 specimens of amphisbaenians (4 Amphisbaena alba, 10 A. fuliginosa, 25 A. vermicularis, and 25 Leposternon infraorbitale) collected during the fauna rescue for the construction of Serra da Mesa hydroelectric dam in the Tocantins River (from 1992 to 1997), in Minaçu County, Goiás, Brazil. We found only five ant species present in the stomach contents, all belonging to the army ants subfamily Ecitoninae. In contrast, the traditional techniques for subterranean ants' collection are far more efficient than the exam of fossorial reptile's stomach contents, collecting a much richer and diverse ant fauna. The exclusive occurrence of army ants in the alimentary tract of these fossorial reptiles suggests that they trace the chemical trails laid by the ants while moving inside and over the soil. Further, the occurrence of the epigaeic army ants Eciton and Labidus in the stomach contents suggests that amphisbaenians may forage on the soil surface as well.

【 授权许可】

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