FOOD COMPONENTS OF THE Brachytarsophrys feae (Boulenger, 1887) AND Megophrys major (Boulenger, 1908) IN XUAN SON NATIONAL PARK, PHU THO PROVINCE

Abstract

The Brachytarsophrys feae, (Boulenger, 1887) and Megophrys major (Boulenger, 1908) are two useful amphibian species in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. However, information on the nutritional characteristics of this species in Vietnam is currently limited. We have used the method of gastric lavage to collect food samples from 62 stomachs, while simultaneously describing the morphological characteristics of these 2 species. The results showed that the snout-vent length (SVL) of the mature individual Brachytarsophrys feae (83 – 89 mm), Megophrys majo (67.5 – 81 mm), the new distributional records of Brachytarsophrys feae. We have identified 18 types of food, in which Brachytarsophrys feae has 14 types, accounting for 77.77%; Megophrys major has 16 categories, accounting for 88.88%. The most important prey species of Brachytarsophrys feae include 5 types of food: (18.48%) of the Phastatodea; Araneae (17.64%); Insect larvae (15.96%); Coleoptera (12.60%); Hemiptera (10.08%). Megophrys major has 4 types of food: Hemiptera (17.21%); Hymenoptera (15.89%); Opiliones (14.56%); Odonata (11.25%). In which, the half-wing set Hemiptera is used by both species.