Updating the prey menu of the ophiophagous snake Erythrolamprus aesculapii (Linnaeus, 1758) with two heterospecific snakes from the Amazon and Atlantic Forest

Abstract

The Aesculapian false coral snake, Erythrolamprus aesculapii, is reported here preying on two heterospecific snake species. An individual of E. aesculapii was observed preying an adult Atractus cf. major in the municipality of Presidente Figueiredo, state of Amazonas, Brazil, and another on an adult Tropidodryas striaceps in the municipality of Divino de São Lourenço, state of Espírito Santo, also in Brazil. Both observations detail the predatory behavior of E. aesculapii, from chasing to immobilizing and ingesting the prey snakes. These findings expand knowledge of the predatory interactions of E. aesculapii, including the addition of two new prey species, reinforcing the ophiophagous nature of its feeding behavior.