Diets of Spectacled and Black Caiman in the Anavilhanas Archipelago, Central Amazonia, Brazil

• DOI: 10.2307/1565713
• Publication Date: 2006-05-05T17:38:02Z
• Authors: Ronis Da Silveira; William E. Magnusson
• Keywords: Archipelago

Stomach contents were collected from 213 Caiman crocodilus with snout-vent lengths (SVL) between 15 cm and 115 cm, 25 Melanosuchus niger SVLs to 95 in the Anavilhanas Archipelago, Rio Negro, Central Amazonia. The prey types consumed by two species generally similar. However, fish common diet of C. but absent M. niger. Snails (Po- macea) occurred 24% stomachs niger, only 2% crocodilus. mean mass food proportion increased, while terrestrial invertebrates decreased significantly size class molluscs increased there was no relationship or other categories this species. sample included subadults. all consumed, fish, ter- restrial invertebrates, shrimps, crabs, positively related varied water body type (lake canal), effect season as indexed level Negro. Seasonal variation shrimps differed among types. Empty 20% Individuals stomach had eaten small volumes, suggesting that