Diets of Silurana tropicalis from Two Rainforest Habitats in Edo State, Nigeria

Abstract

The stomach of 180 Silurana tropicalis specimens, (106 from Obazuwa wetland (OBW) and 74 from Okomu National Park (ONP) were examined for their dietary composition. A total of 12 invertebrate orders (Acarina, Arachnida, Coleoptera, Diptera, Hemiptera, Odonata, Hymenoptera, Orthoptera, Isoptera, Blattoidea, Annelida and Diplopoda), both terrestrial and aquatic were recorded in addition to amphibian eggs and tadpoles. The prey orders from OBW had both aquatic and terrestrial species, with the aquatic invertebrates predominating (57.14%). Although less number of prey orders was recorded in frogs from ONP, terrestrial invertebrates constituted 80% of their diet. The presence of amphibian eggs and tadpoles in the stomach content of these frogs is an indication that S. tropicalis is also cannibalistic as already reported in other pipid and non-anurans species. The results suggest that S. tropicalis is an opportunistic generalist feeder which may be constrained by food available in its habitat.
Keywords: Silurana tropicalis, Diet, Stomach, Rainforest habitat