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International Journal of Zoology and Animal Biology Research Article 4 min read

Pet Food: A New Food Item for Rhinella diptycha (Cope, 1862) (Anura: Bufonidae) in Brazil

Sousa BA*, Benício RA and Fonseca MG
* Corresponding author
ISSN: 2639-216X  10.23880/izab-16000588  Received: May 10, 2024  Published: May 23, 2024
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Keywords
Diet Rhinella diptycha Bufonidae Pet Food Natural History
Abstract

Rhinella diptycha (Cope, 1862) is a large anuran from the Bufonidae family, widely distributed in Brazil, occurring in open natural areas and urbanized regions. Its diet is mainly composed of insects, but it is known as a generalist species that consumes any available food resources. In this case report, we occasionally recorded individuals of Rhinella diptycha (in italics) (juveniles and adults) in two different regions of Brazil feeding on pet food on the ground. After observation, a female Rhinella diptycha (in italics) was collected and taken to the Laboratory of Herpetology and Parasitology of Wild Animals for diet analysis. Thirty-two prey items were identified in its stomach, in which “pet food” was the category with the highest volume (V = 55.1%) followed by Caribidae (V = 34.8%) and Formicidae (9.8%). Pet food was also the most representative item (N = 62.5%) followed by Formicidae (N = 34.3%) and Caribidae (3.1%). This is the first record in Brazil of an amphibian eating pet food. The results may be related to the urban environment, where they were recorded, as well as the presence of domestic animals in the environment. Here, we describe the unusual diet of this species, reinforcing its opportunistic nature.

Acknowledgments

We thank Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade - ICMBio for the collection license (SISBIO No. 86665). We also thank Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico – CNPq and Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Piauí – FAPEPI for financial support (Process 301239/2022-3).

Figure 1: Individuals of Rhinella diptycha feeding on pet food, municipality of Picos, state of Piauí, northeastern Brazil.
Click to enlarge
Figure 1: Individuals of Rhinella diptycha feeding on pet food, municipality of Picos, state of Piauí, northeastern Brazil.
Figure 2: Rhinella diptycha (A) Dorsal view; (B) Ventral view, Distension of the stomach; (C) Stomach items; (D) overview; (E) Pet food found in the stomach; (F) Other food items from the stomach (Car = Caribidae; For = Formicidae).
Click to enlarge
Figure 2: Rhinella diptycha (A) Dorsal view; (B) Ventral view, Distension of the stomach; (C) Stomach items; (D) overview; (E) Pet food found in the stomach; (F) Other food items from the stomach (Car = Caribidae; For = Formicidae).
Figure 3: Individual of Rhinella diptycha feeding on pet food, municipality of Barras, state of Piauí, northeastern Brazil.
Click to enlarge
Figure 3: Individual of Rhinella diptycha feeding on pet food, municipality of Barras, state of Piauí, northeastern Brazil.
CatogoryV (mm3)V%NN%
Pet food0.551855.10%2062.50%
Formicidae0.0989.80%1134.30%
Carabidae0.348734.80%13.10%

Table 1: Items found in the stomach of Rhinella diptycha and their respective representation. Volume [V (mm3)], volumetric propor

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@article{sousa2024,
  title   = {Pet Food: A New Food Item for Rhinella diptycha (Cope, 1862)
(Anura: Bufonidae) in Brazil},
  author  = {Sousa BA, Benício RA and Fonseca MG},
  journal = {International Journal of Zoology and Animal Biology},
  year    = {2024},
  volume  = {7},
  number  = {3},
  doi     = {10.23880/izab-16000588}
}
Sousa BA, Benício RA and Fonseca MG (2024). Pet Food: A New Food Item for Rhinella diptycha (Cope, 1862)
(Anura: Bufonidae) in Brazil. International Journal of Zoology and Animal Biology, 7(3). https://doi.org/10.23880/izab-16000588
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Pet Food: A New Food Item for Rhinella diptycha (Cope, 1862)
(Anura: Bufonidae) in Brazil
AU  - Sousa BA, Benício RA and Fonseca MG
JO  - International Journal of Zoology and Animal Biology
PY  - 2024
VL  - 7
IS  - 3
DO  - 10.23880/izab-16000588
ER  -