A rare trophic interaction: Carnivory by Helicogonus princeps (Brölemann, 1902) (Diplopoda, Spirostreptida, Spirostreptidae) on the frog Physalaemus cuvieri Fitzinger, 1826 (Anura, Leptodactylidae) in Brazil

Juan C. Diaz-Ricaurte; João P. S. Vieira-Alencar; Luiz F. M. Iniesta; Rodrigo S. Bouzan; Márcio Martins

doi:10.37486/2675-1305.ec07027

Authors

Juan C. Diaz-Ricaurte Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil/Universidad de la Amazonia, Florencia, CAQ, Colombia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4659-0865
João P. S. Vieira-Alencar Universidade Federal do ABC, São Bernardo do Campo, SP, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6894-6773
Luiz F. M. Iniesta Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, SP, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0529-4162
Rodrigo S. Bouzan Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, SP, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5331-7031
Márcio Martins Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8108-6309

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37486/2675-1305.ec07027

Keywords:

Carnivory, postmortem, Cerrado, Taphonomy, Spirostreptida

Abstract

Millipedes (Diplopoda) are predominantly detritivores, and reports of carnivory in the group remain rare. Here, we describe a potential case of perimortem predation involving the frog Physalaemus cuvieri Fitzinger, 1826 (Anura, Leptodactylidae) and the millipede Helicogonus princeps (Brölemann, 1902) (Diplopoda, Spirostreptida, Spirostreptidae) in Brazil. Two adult females of H. princeps were observed tightly coiled around the frog and consuming its tissues over a 20-hour period. Although it was not possible to determine whether the frog was alive at the onset of the interaction, the behavior suggests either opportunistic predation or carrion feeding. This event represents one of the few documented instances of vertebrate consumption by millipedes and highlights the need for further investigation into the trophic ecology of this understudied group.

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