Ecologia alimentar e dimorfismo sexual de Odontophrynus carvalhoi Savage e Cei, 1965 (Anura, Odontophrynidae) em uma floresta úmida do estado do Ceará, Brasil

Abstract

Understanding diets and feeding behavior is essential for understanding ecological interactions and conserving species and ecosystems. The present study investigated the diet and sexual dimorphism of Odontophrynus carvalhoi in a humid forest area in the Serra de Guaramiranga, Ceará, Brazil. Thirty-seven individuals were analyzed, 19 males and 18 females, of which 19 had stomach contents. As in other Odontophrynidae species, the diet of O. carvalhoi is closer to that of a generalist predator. However, unlike other taxa in the genus, Formicidae was a critical prey category in the diet. No significant sexual dimorphism in body size or food preferences between males and females was observed. These findings highlight the importance of examining feeding behavior in the context of local environmental conditions and suggest that O. carvalhoi may exhibit flexible feeding strategies to adapt to variable prey availability.