Hábitos alimenticios de Crocodylus acutus (Reptilia: Crocodyliade) determinados por el análisis de sus excretas en la costa de Jalisco, México

Abstract

FROM JUNE 1989 TO MAY 1993, WE COLLECTED AND ANALYZED 56 SCATS OF WILD CROCODYLUS ACUTUS, TO KNOW THE FOOD HABITS OF THIS SPECIES IN THE PACIFIC COAST OF MEXICO, IN THE STATE OF JALISCO. AFTER CHECKING THE REMAINS IN THE SCATS, WE FOUND MAMMAL HAIR (51.78%), BIRD FEATHERS (32.14%), REPTILE AND FISH SCALES (30.35%), CRUSTACEANS (26.78%), INSECTS (12.50%) AND SEEDS (21.42%). ALTHOUGH IT HAS BEEN REPORTED THAT ADULT C. ACUTUS ARE MAINLY PISCIVOROUS, FISH SCALES WERE LESS FREQUENT IN LARGER SCATS, SUPPOSEDLY BELONGING TO ADULT CROCODILIES. WE IDENTIFIED 15 GROUPS OF ORGANISMS, 10 OF THEM AS NEW RECORDS TO SPECIES LEVEL. SEEDS IN SCATS OF COCODILES ARE REPORTED FOR THE TIME, SUGGESTING THAT THEY MAY BE SECONDARY DISSEMINATORS OF SEED. THERE ARE SIMILARITIES IN THE FEEDING HABITS BETWEEN C. ACUTUS AND OTHER CROCODILES AS C. NILOTICUS, C.PALUSTRIS AND ALLGATOR MISSISSIPPIENSIS.