Nest predation of Chelonoidis denticulata - Herpetology Notes

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land crab (Birgus latro). However, records of predation
on C. denticulata nests are unknown in literature.
Coatis are diurnal, scansorial and omnivore, feeding
mainly on invertebrates, fruits, and occasional vertebrate
prey (Redford and Stearman, 1993; Gompper and
Decker, 1998; Peracchi, Rocha and Reis, 2002; Alves-
Costa, Fonseca and Christófaro, 2004; Hirsch, 2009;
Rocha-Mendes et al., 2010). Additionally, opportunistic
feeding on frogs, dead birds and turtle eggs buried in the
ground (undetermined species) has also been observed
(Hirsch, 2009). Here we report the first record of a N.
nasua as a potential predator of nests of the “jabuti”, C.
denticulata.
The present study demonstrates that nests of C.
denticulata are subject to predation by generalist species
such as N. nasua, which contributes to the mortality of
nests. In this context, it is important to emphasize the
necessity of future studies, which are fundamental to
the understanding of the impact of highly predatory
behavior of coatis on chelonians nests.
Vitor Azarias Campos et al.
Figure 1. Nasua nasua preying on eggs of Chelonoidis denticulata in a mesophyllous semideciduous forest fragment at the Parque
Natural Municipal Ilto Ferreira Coutinho, municipality of Tangará da Serra, state of Mato Grosso, Brazil.
Acknowledgements. We thank Fernando I. Martins, Paulo S.
Bernarde, Mariana F. Felismino, Tiago S. Vasconcelos and one
anonymous reviewer for comments on this manuscript. Amanda
B. Campos and Ketlin Dartore for field assistance. The Conselho
Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)
provided financial support to V.A. Campos and P.H. Gallo, and
Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior
(CAPES) provided financial support to F.H. Oda.
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