Compsophis laphystius (Cadle, 1996)

Hutter, Carl Richard, Andriampenomanana, Zo F., Razafindraibe, Jary H., Rakotoarison, Dr. Andolalao & Scherz, Mark D., 2018, New dietary data from Compsophis and Alluaudina species (Squamata: Lamprophiidae: Pseudoxyrhophiinae), and implications for their dietary complexity and evolution, Journal of Natural History 52 (39 - 40), pp. 2497-2510 : 2499

Compsophis laphystius with Mantella laevigata in stomach ( Figure 1 (a))

An adult specimen of Compsophis laphystius (specimen UADBA-R uncatalogued, MSZC 0251 ) was captured at night on the 21 November 2016 (ca. 14.438°S, 49.776°E; 460 m asl) near ‘Camp Mantella’ (Camp 1 of the three main camps of Marojejy) . After euthanasia, the stomach contents were examined, and a mostly whole specimen of the climbing poison frog, Mantella laevigata (tissue sample MSTIS 00081 ), was found in its stomach . The colouration of M. laevigata is unique, allowing unambiguous identification of it as the prey item. Mantella laevigata is an abundant species in this area of the national park, which has extensive bamboo forests in which the frog breeds.

Figures

Figure 1. Specimens of Compsophis laphystius with dietary records from Marojejy. (a) An adult specimen (MSZC 0251), which had ingested an adult Mantella laevigata. (b) An adult specimen (MSTIS 00084) photographed beside (i.e. to scale with) its regurgitated prey item, Gephyromantis cf. granulatus (MSTIS 00085).