Compsophis sp.

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 : 2502

Compsophis sp. aff. laphystius with Platypelis grandis in stomach

During nocturnal surveys on 8 December 2017, in a dry river on the west slope of Montagne d’ Ambre National Park (12.5912°S, 49.1294°E; 941 m asl) we encountered a large female specimen of C . sp. aff. laphystius (specimen ZSM 140 /2018, MSZC 0783 , Figure 4 (a)) that had recently ingested a large meal. During transport back to our encampment, the specimen regurgitated a large adult Platypelis grandis (specimen UADBA-A uncatalogued, MSZC 0755 ) . This frog had been ingested head-first, and the skin of the head had already been digested, but it was otherwise in moderately good condition, though it rapidly became odorous.

Figures

Figure 4. Two Compsophis sp. aff. laphystius diet records. (a) An adult specimen (MSZC 0783) after regurgitating a large specimen of Platypelis grandis (MSZC 0755). (b, c) A juvenile specimen (MSZC 0657) (b) before and (c) after regurgitation beside (i.e. to scale with) the Lygodactylus sp. specimen (MSZC 0650) it had eaten.