Food composition of some low altitude Lissotriton montandoni (Amphibia, Caudata) populations from north-western Romania

Abstract

The diet of some populations of Lissotriton montandoni from north-western Romania is composed of prey belonging to 20 categories. The food components of the Carpathian newts are similar to those of other species of newts. Most of the prey are aquatic animals, but terrestrial prey also has a high percentage abundance. The consumed prey categories are common in the newts habitats as well, but in natural ponds the prey item with the highest abundance in the diet is not the most frequent one in the habitat. Thus, although the Carpathian newt's are basically opportunistic predators, they still display a certain trophic selectivity.