Short Communications
Underwater and Terrestrial Feeding in the Sri Lankan Wart-Frog, Lankanectes corrugatus
Authors:
Rohan Pethiyagoda ,
Australian Museum, Sydney, AU
Kelum Manamendra-Arachchi,
University of Kelaniya, LK
About Kelum
Postgraduate Institute of Archaeology
Hiranya Sudasinghe
University of Peradeniya, LK
About Hiranya
Department of Zoology
Abstract
The vast majority of the world’s anurans feed terrestrially, with aquatic prey capture having been observed in only a handful of species. We tested the predation behaviour of the strictly aquatic ‘fanged’ frog Lankanectes corrugatus (Nyctibatrachidae) by providing specimens with both aquatic and terrestrial feeding opportunities. The frogs successfully captured prey both underwater and on land adjacent to water. During underwater feeding they located prey purely by tactile stimuli rather than by vision; prey were scooped into the open mouth using both hands. When feeding terrestrially, however, the frogs relied on visual cues alone when attacking prey, capturing prey items by lunging at them, grasping and scooping with the hands. Oral suction and tongue or jaw prehension were not observed in prey capture whether underwater or on land, and the 'fangs' do not appear to play a role in prey capture or ingestion.
Ceylon Journal of Science (Bio. Sci.) 43 (2): 79-82, 2014
How to Cite:
Pethiyagoda, R., Manamendra-Arachchi, K. and Sudasinghe, H., 2015. Underwater and Terrestrial Feeding in the Sri Lankan Wart-Frog, Lankanectes corrugatus. Ceylon Journal of Science (Biological Sciences), 43(2), pp.79–82. DOI: http://doi.org/10.4038/cjsbs.v43i2.7327
Published on
26 Apr 2015.
Peer Reviewed
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