The Thrush Trudus celaenops , as an Avian Predator of Juvenile Eumeces okadae on Miyake-Jima, Izu Islands

Abstract

Avian predation upon the lizard Eumeces okadae was examined on Miyake-jima, a volcanic island free from native species of mammalian and ophidian predators. Trudus celaenops, a medium-sized insectivorus bird very abundant on the island, was suspected to be large enough to subdue juvenile lizards. Feeding experiments indicated that T. celaenops was a size-limited predator, capable of capturing E. okadae smaller than 48mm snout-vent length.