First Record of Ophiophagy in Philippine Groundsnake Stegonotus muelleri on the Non-banded Philippine Burrowing Snake Oxyrhabdium modestum

Abstract

The Philippine groundsnake Stegonotus muelleri is a non-venomous colubrid widely distributed in the Mindanao Pleistocene Aggregate Island Complex. Despite the species’ regular sightings and occurrence in field surveys, sparse is known about its natural history, including its dietary habits. Although ophiophagy is frequent among elapids, Stegonotus muelleri has not been specifically reported to consume snakes. We provide the first account of ophiophagy in a colubrid snake, Stegonotus muelleri, on a lamphrophiid snake, Oxyrhabdium modestum, providing a glimpse into the species trophic role as a snake-eating predator, and suspected post- feeding behavior (limited mobility and aboveground perching spot) – essential information that augments the gaps in our understanding of the species’ natural history.