THE INGESTION OF A LARGE PREY FACILITATING THE CAPTURE OF THE PREDATOR: A STUDY CASE IN Micrurus corallinus (SERPENTES, ELAPIDAE)

Abstract

We report a case of predation of a large specimen of the Dipsas neuwiedi by a Micrurus corallinus, in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. The ingestion reported here is one of the greatest prey / predator ratios registered for genus Micrurus in nature. In this predation event, the ingestion of a large prey limited the M. corallinus locomotion, which did not offer resistance and was not able to move efficiently during the capture.