Records of predation on Ophiodes striatus (Spix, 1824) (Squamata: Diploglossidae) by Oxyrhopus petolarius (Linnaeus, 1758) (Squamata: Dipsadidae) in the northern Atlantic Forest, Brazil

Abstract

Information on basic aspects of the natural history of many snake species based on naturalistic observations is still scarce. Here we report Oxyrhopus petolarius, a medium-sized false coral snake with terrestrial habits, feeding on Ophiodes striatus, a medium-sized lizard with cylindrical and elongated body, with vestigial posterior limbs and absence of anterior ones. The snake was registered ingesting an individual of O. striatus and upon inspecting of its stomach contents, the presence of two other individuals of O. striatus in different stages of digestion was found.