Trophic and spatial ecology of Pristimantis relictus (Anura: Strabomantidae) in Atlantic Forest remnants of northeastern Brazil

Abstract

Natural history studies offer insights into the behavior and interactions of species in various environments, which are crucial for conservation and preservation. Pristimantis relictus is a newly described Robber Frog endemic to the isolated mountains of Ceará state, northeast Brazil. Limited information on its ecology is currently available. Herein we describe the feeding habits and microhabitat use of this species from three mountains in Ceará state. We also performed a literature review of the prey items consumed by other species in the genus Pristimantis in the Americas. In general, P. relictus is a generalist in terms of microhabitat use, foraging in herbaceous plants, on the ground, trees, and shrubs, and for diet, consuming a wide range of prey groups, with beetles and larvae the most common prey. This plasticity of dietary and microhabitat use may be crucial for the persistence and geographic distribution of this species, including their response to environmental changes. The large variety of prey categories utilized by species of Pristimantis suggests a generalist diet that may reflect prey diversity in the environment.