We examined the diets of 3 species of bufonids from northern Mexico (Anaxyrus debilis, Anaxyrus punctatus, and lncilius mazatlanensis) with the objective of better understanding the diets of amphibians in this region of Mexico, which is currently undergoing environmental change. The diet of A. debilis was numerically and volumetrically dominated by termites, followed by ants. In A. debilis, some aspects of prey size were correlated with toad head width but were not related to head length or body size (i.e., snout—vent length [SVL]). Ants were numerically the most important prey item in the diet of A. punctatus, but beetles were volumetrically the most important prey item. Prey size was not related to toad head size or body size in A. punctatus. The diet of I. mazatlanensis numerically consisted of ants, beetles, and bugs; however, volumetrically, its diet was dominated by beetles. In I. mazatlanensis, only prey length was correlated with toad head width and SVL. The diets of these 3 species generally fit our previous understanding of the diets of bufonids.
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1 December 2011
Diets of Three Species of Bufonids (Amphibia, Anura) from Northern Mexico
Geoffrey R. Smith,
Julio A. Lemos-Espinal,
Allison B. Burner,
Kristen E. Winter,
Christopher B. Dayer
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