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1 December 2010 Feeding Ecology of Thoropa taophora (Anura: Cycloramphidae) on a Rocky Seashore in Southeastern Brazil
Cinthia A. Brasileiro, Marcio Martins, Ivan Sazima
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Abstract

The rock frog (Thoropa taophora) dwells from rocky seashores to rocky outcrops within the Atlantic rainforest on coastal areas of the state of São Paulo, southeastern Brazil. In this study, we provide data on the food habits of a rock frog population focusing on ontogenetic, sexual, and seasonal variation. The study was based on the examination of 356 individuals (154 adults, 82 juveniles and 120 froglets). A total of 26 invertebrate types were found in the diet of T. taophora. The commonest prey types in the three size classes (adults, juveniles and froglets) of rock frogs were ants, both in frequency and number. Prey composition differed significantly among size classes, except for beetles and spiders. Prey composition of males and females also differed significantly: females had a high proportion of marine isopods, caddisfly nymphs, and orthopterans in the diet, whereas males had a high proportion of ants and caterpillars. Seasonal changes in diet (all significant) in the three size classes include froglets eating more springtails and less mites in the dry season, juveniles eating more marine isopods during the wet season (similar difference for adult males), and adult females eating more ants during the wet season.

©2010 Brazilian Society of Herpetology
Cinthia A. Brasileiro, Marcio Martins, and Ivan Sazima "Feeding Ecology of Thoropa taophora (Anura: Cycloramphidae) on a Rocky Seashore in Southeastern Brazil," South American Journal of Herpetology 5(3), 181-188, (1 December 2010). https://doi.org/10.2994/057.005.0303
Received: 19 August 2010; Accepted: 1 November 2010; Published: 1 December 2010
KEYWORDS
Atlantic rainforest
diet composition
ontogenetic variation
rock frog
seasonal variation
South America
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