Hábito alimentar de bufo marinus em uma savana amazônica.

Abstract

Bufo marinus is an extremely generalist amphibian. Diet studies show that generalist animals can change the quality of their diet according to environmental changes. This study analyzes the seasonal variation in the diet of Bufo marinus. The animals were collected in Alter do Chão, Santarém, Pará. The animals were weighed, rostrum length, anal length and mandible width were recorded. Stomach contents of each animal were identified to order category, weighed on analytical scales, and prey length and frequency were recorded. A great variety of prey items was found, with the most predominant orders being Isoptera (72%), Hymenoptera (24%), and Coleoptera (3%). There were differences between male and female diet during the dry season and seasonal changes in the diet of males. Differences in diet may be related to habitat choice, females inhabiting more the cerrado, where Isoptera incidence is higher, and males the beaches where there is a higher incidence of Hymenoptera. The seasonal changes in the diet of males lead us to believe that it is due to migration to the cerrado after the disappearance of beaches due to the flooding of the Tapajós River. (CNPq, SCIRO-Autralia)