Predation by snakes on seabirds at three South African Islands

Abstract

During 1989-1994, adult mole snakes Pseudaspis cana at Robben Island were recorded eating eggs of African penguin Spheniscus demersus and Hartlaub's gull Larus hartlaubii, as well as those of helmeted guinea-fowl Numida meleagris. Juvenile mole snakes ate clicking stream frogs Strongylopus grayii. At Schaapen and Meeuw islands, egg-eater snakes Dasypeltis scabra fed on eggs of Cape cormorant Phalacrocorax capensis, kelp gull L. dominicanus and rock pigeon Columba guinea. A puff adder Bitis arietans was seen at Meeuw Island, but was not observed feeding there.