Prey’s traits mediate a neotropical toad diet

摘要: 1. Despite the widespread occurrence of myrmecophagy in anurans it is generally unclear whether ant-specialists feed on ants opportunistically or they preferentially select for certain species, potentially favoring specific morphological, ecological, nutritional traits. 2. We flushed 105 stomachs a lowland neotropical toad, Rhinella alata, and identified each consumed ant to species level. used linear selectivity calculate predator preference by comparing abundances their leaf litter community Barro Colorado Island, Panama. conducted multiple regression models test general related seven morphological characteristics two measurements content. 3. alata harvested 24 species. Other were either avoided (n=34) eaten (n=26). found that R. predominantly preys upon large are textured with hair and/or rugosity prey did not relate nutrition small even if hyper abundant environment, ate chemically-defended aggressive enough. 4. propose prefers because represent more efficient item terms handling time easier see than smaller ants. Furthermore, we hypothesize predation attempts successful when microstructures tongue surface may increase adhesion. 5. The specialist specializing any particular but rather maximizing quantity over quality only eating largest ants, despite scarcity environment.