Diet composition of a burrow-utilising frog, Limnonectes cintalubang Matsui et al., 2014 (Anura: Dicroglossidae), in Sarawak, Malaysia

Abstract

To understand the feeding ecology of the unique burrow-utilizing fanged frog Limnonectes cintalubang in Borneo, we analysed its diet composition. Stomach contents were obtained by dissection of preserved specimens, and by forced regurgitation of living individuals from Ranchan Pool, Sarawak, Malaysia. Samples were compared with those of other species of Limnonectes using principal component analysis. Our results show that the diet of L. cintalubang was characterised by a high consumption of ants (45% in number, 90% in frequency) and the avoidance of orthopterans (2% in number, 5% in frequency) and crustaceans (no consumption). The diet composition of L. cintalubang was more similar to that of L. nguyenorum, which is closer in body size, than that of the closely related L. kuhlii. Interspecific comparison suggests that the diet composition of L. cintalubang is related to its body size rather than to its unique habitat type.