Publicado

2025-10-29

Predation attempts on large Rhinella toads (Bufonidae) by Paleosuchus caimans (Alligatoridae) in artificial ponds

Depredación de sapos grandes de Rhinella (Bufonidae) por caimanes Paleosuchus (Alligatoridae) en estanques artificiales

Palabras clave:

Amazon, Caimans, Cane-toads, Cerrado, Trophic interactions (en)
Amazonia, Caimanes, Cerrado, Interacciones tróficas, Sapos de caña (es)

Autores/as

Predation on bufonid toads can be perilous due to the presence of paratoid glands, which can poison and even lead to the death of the predator. Some crocodilians avoid contact with the toad’s poison or are probably tolerant to the venom of the toad species they feed on. Herein, we report predation events on the toads belonging to the Rhinella marina species group (R. marina and R. diptycha) by the caimans Paleosuchus trigonatus and P. palpebrosus, respectively. Our observations represent the first record of Rhinella species in the diet of P. palpebrosus and reveal strategies used by Paleosuchus individuals to avoid or minimize toxin ingestion. Both observations involved caimans in disturbed habitats, where lower prey availability likely promotes this interaction during the toad’s reproductive activity.

La depredación de sapos bufónidos puede ser peligrosa debido a la presencia de glándulas que producen veneno, lo que puede provocar envenenamiento e incluso la muerte de sus depredadores. Algunos cocodrilos evitan el contacto con las glándulas venenosas o son probablemente tolerantes al veneno de los sapos que consumen. Reportamos dos eventos de depredación de grandes sapos del género Rhinella de grupo marina (R. marina y R. diptycha) por caimanes Paleosuchus trigonatus y P. palpebrosus, respectivamente. Las observaciones presentadas constituyen el primer registro de especies de Rhinella en la dieta de P. palpebrosus y revelan estrategias utilizadas por individuos de Paleosuchus para evitar o minimizar la ingestión de toxinas. Ambas observaciones involucraron caimanes en hábitats alterados, donde la menor disponibilidad de presas probablemente fomenta esta interacción durante los eventos reproductivos de los sapos.

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Cómo citar

APA

Alves Coimbra, M., Alves-Silva, K. R., Parreira, I., Lima, L. F., Dubeux, M. J. M. & Albuquerque Brandão, R. (2025). Predation attempts on large Rhinella toads (Bufonidae) by Paleosuchus caimans (Alligatoridae) in artificial ponds. Acta Biológica Colombiana, 30(3). https://revistas.unal.edu.co/index.php/actabiol/article/view/116651

ACM

[1]
Alves Coimbra, M., Alves-Silva, K.R., Parreira, I., Lima, L.F., Dubeux, M.J.M. y Albuquerque Brandão, R. 2025. Predation attempts on large Rhinella toads (Bufonidae) by Paleosuchus caimans (Alligatoridae) in artificial ponds. Acta Biológica Colombiana. 30, 3 (sep. 2025).

ACS

(1)
Alves Coimbra, M.; Alves-Silva, K. R.; Parreira, I.; Lima, L. F.; Dubeux, M. J. M.; Albuquerque Brandão, R. Predation attempts on large Rhinella toads (Bufonidae) by Paleosuchus caimans (Alligatoridae) in artificial ponds. Acta biol. Colomb. 2025, 30.

ABNT

ALVES COIMBRA, M.; ALVES-SILVA, K. R.; PARREIRA, I.; LIMA, L. F.; DUBEUX, M. J. M.; ALBUQUERQUE BRANDÃO, R. Predation attempts on large Rhinella toads (Bufonidae) by Paleosuchus caimans (Alligatoridae) in artificial ponds. Acta Biológica Colombiana, [S. l.], v. 30, n. 3, 2025. Disponível em: https://revistas.unal.edu.co/index.php/actabiol/article/view/116651. Acesso em: 27 dic. 2025.

Chicago

Alves Coimbra, Murielly, Kleiton Rodolfo Alves-Silva, Isabella Parreira, Luis Felipe Lima, Marcos Jorge Matias Dubeux, y Reuber Albuquerque Brandão. 2025. «Predation attempts on large Rhinella toads (Bufonidae) by Paleosuchus caimans (Alligatoridae) in artificial ponds». Acta Biológica Colombiana 30 (3). https://revistas.unal.edu.co/index.php/actabiol/article/view/116651.

Harvard

Alves Coimbra, M., Alves-Silva, K. R., Parreira, I., Lima, L. F., Dubeux, M. J. M. y Albuquerque Brandão, R. (2025) «Predation attempts on large Rhinella toads (Bufonidae) by Paleosuchus caimans (Alligatoridae) in artificial ponds», Acta Biológica Colombiana, 30(3). Disponible en: https://revistas.unal.edu.co/index.php/actabiol/article/view/116651 (Accedido: 27 diciembre 2025).

IEEE

[1]
M. Alves Coimbra, K. R. Alves-Silva, I. Parreira, L. F. Lima, M. J. M. Dubeux, y R. Albuquerque Brandão, «Predation attempts on large Rhinella toads (Bufonidae) by Paleosuchus caimans (Alligatoridae) in artificial ponds», Acta biol. Colomb., vol. 30, n.º 3, sep. 2025.

MLA

Alves Coimbra, M., K. R. Alves-Silva, I. Parreira, L. F. Lima, M. J. M. Dubeux, y R. Albuquerque Brandão. «Predation attempts on large Rhinella toads (Bufonidae) by Paleosuchus caimans (Alligatoridae) in artificial ponds». Acta Biológica Colombiana, vol. 30, n.º 3, septiembre de 2025, https://revistas.unal.edu.co/index.php/actabiol/article/view/116651.

Turabian

Alves Coimbra, Murielly, Kleiton Rodolfo Alves-Silva, Isabella Parreira, Luis Felipe Lima, Marcos Jorge Matias Dubeux, y Reuber Albuquerque Brandão. «Predation attempts on large Rhinella toads (Bufonidae) by Paleosuchus caimans (Alligatoridae) in artificial ponds». Acta Biológica Colombiana 30, no. 3 (septiembre 12, 2025). Accedido diciembre 27, 2025. https://revistas.unal.edu.co/index.php/actabiol/article/view/116651.

Vancouver

1.
Alves Coimbra M, Alves-Silva KR, Parreira I, Lima LF, Dubeux MJM, Albuquerque Brandão R. Predation attempts on large Rhinella toads (Bufonidae) by Paleosuchus caimans (Alligatoridae) in artificial ponds. Acta biol. Colomb. [Internet]. 12 de septiembre de 2025 [citado 27 de diciembre de 2025];30(3). Disponible en: https://revistas.unal.edu.co/index.php/actabiol/article/view/116651

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