A) Juvenile Coniophanes imperialis consuming an adult Trachycephalus vermiculatus at at a house garden in Bacalar, Quintana Roo, Mexico; B-D) adult C. imperialis preying on T. vermiculatus in a Casimiroa tetrameria tree at 1.30 m height on different dates at a house garden in Bacalar, Quintana Roo, Mexico. Toxic secretions are observed on the skin of the frogs in all cases.

Contexts in source publication

Context 1

... Shivaji University campus, Kolhapur, India (16.67838°N, 74.25510° E; WGS 84; 607 m elev.). We observed that the snake was very weak and dehydrated and noticed that there was something stuck in the mouth preventing movement of the jaws. After critical observations we confirmed that it was chewing gum and due to this, the snake was unable to feed ( Fig. 1). One eye and lower jaw of the snake were slightly damaged because of the pressure applied by the snake to open the mouth. With the help of a local veterinary doctor, we removed the chewing gum which was stuck in its mouth and released it back into nature after proper treatment. (Fig. 1A). At 1926 h on 15 March 2021, at the same ...

Context 2

... chewing gum and due to this, the snake was unable to feed ( Fig. 1). One eye and lower jaw of the snake were slightly damaged because of the pressure applied by the snake to open the mouth. With the help of a local veterinary doctor, we removed the chewing gum which was stuck in its mouth and released it back into nature after proper treatment. (Fig. 1A). At 1926 h on 15 March 2021, at the same location, an adult C. imperialis with an incomplete tail was observed among the leaves of an Anthurium schlechtendalii located over the trunk of the tree Casimiroa tetrameria at 1.30 m above the ground. The snake trapped an adult T. vermiculatus by one of its hind legs, which produced toxic skin ...

Context 3

... At 1926 h on 15 March 2021, at the same location, an adult C. imperialis with an incomplete tail was observed among the leaves of an Anthurium schlechtendalii located over the trunk of the tree Casimiroa tetrameria at 1.30 m above the ground. The snake trapped an adult T. vermiculatus by one of its hind legs, which produced toxic skin secretions (Fig. 1B) and emitted loud distress vocalizations while unsuccessfully trying to free itself by clinging to the leaves of a Tillandsia sp. (Fig. 1C). After 48 min, and without the frog's toxic secretions having any effect, the snake managed to consume it. Three days later, on 18 March, the same snake was observed consuming a juvenile T. ...

Context 4

... schlechtendalii located over the trunk of the tree Casimiroa tetrameria at 1.30 m above the ground. The snake trapped an adult T. vermiculatus by one of its hind legs, which produced toxic skin secretions (Fig. 1B) and emitted loud distress vocalizations while unsuccessfully trying to free itself by clinging to the leaves of a Tillandsia sp. (Fig. 1C). After 48 min, and without the frog's toxic secretions having any effect, the snake managed to consume it. Three days later, on 18 March, the same snake was observed consuming a juvenile T. vermiculatus at ground level. Subsequently, at the same site at 2206 h on 25 March, the same C. imperialis was observed preying on a third T. ...

Context 5

... any effect, the snake managed to consume it. Three days later, on 18 March, the same snake was observed consuming a juvenile T. vermiculatus at ground level. Subsequently, at the same site at 2206 h on 25 March, the same C. imperialis was observed preying on a third T. vermiculatus on a C. tetrameria trunk, among the roots of an A. schlechtendali (Fig. 1D). Finally, at 2148 h on 26 March, at the same location, the snake was again observed chasing a fourth individual of T. vermiculatus, without managing to catch it. The snake was then captured and measured (491 mm total length, with an incomplete tail, 39.4 g), and subsequently released at the same site. It seems that T. vermiculatus is ...