Lichtenstein’s green racer, Philodryas olfersii (Squamata: Dipsadidae), preying on a black rat, Rattus rattus (Rodentia: Muridae), in a rural area of Brazil's semiarid region
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.13102/scb12659Abstract
We report a predation event by the South American dipsadid Philodryas olfersii on Rattus rattus in a rural area of Ceará State, northeastern Brazil. The snake was observed on the ground in a residential backyard, coiling approximately two loops around the rodent's thorax and abdomen and constricting it tightly for 3–5 min. Ingestion began 6–9 min after prey capture, with the snake swallowing the rat headfirst and completing ingestion within 15–22 min. This report expands the known diet of P. olfersii to include a prey item not previously documented in the literature and highlights the species’ potential role in controlling small mammals, particularly invasive rodents.
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