Trophic niche of Dendropsophus minutus (Anura: Hylidae) in southern Brazil

Abstract

The feeding biology of the Neotropical tree frog Dendropsophus minutus is described based on identification of the items consumed by the anuran. Samples were collected monthly samplings for one year in an Araucaria forest in the state of Paraná in southern Brazil. Of the total of 101 gastrointestines examined, 51 were empty or contained digested remains or plant items. The 50 samples of gastrointestinal contents contained three classes and 10 orders of arthropods. The results suggest that D. minutus is a generalist predator that feeds on arthropods, primarily those in the orders Araneae, Lepidoptera, and Diptera. The diet varies seasonally depending upon prey activity, which determines the breadth of the trophic niche of the frog.