An unusual prey for the cangati catfish in the Upper Paraná River Floodplain, Brazil

Abstract

We herein report a case of predation by Trachelyopterus galeatus (Teleostei, Siluriformes) on Leptodactylusfuscus (Amphibia, Anura). An adult specimen of T. galeatus was collected in a gillnets during fieldwork in the UpperParaná River Floodplain, Brazil. During the recent analysis of stomach contents a partially digested prey was observed.We identified this item as a juvenile L. fuscus. This is the first record of an amphibian anuran in the diet of the cangaticatfish, T. galeatus. We believe that cases of anuran predation by T. galeatus are rare, and that the observed eventwas the result to an opportunistic feeding strategy of the fish. However, this report is particularly relevant because itdemonstrates a possible effect of a non-native predator species on frogs in the Upper Paraná River Floodplain. Thus,future studies are essential for understanding the effects of the predatory behavior of non-native fishes on the anuranfauna on the floodplain.