GREATER GRISON (GALICTIS VITTATTA) HUNTS A CENTRAL AMERICAN INDIGO SNAKE (DRYMARCHON MELANURUS) IN SOUTHEASTERN MEXICO

The greater grison (Galictis vittatta) is one of the least studied Neotropical carnivores. As part of a biodiversity survey in southeastern Mexico, we recorded in a camera trap a greater grison that carried in its mouth a Central American indigo snake (Drymarchon melanurus). Even though we did not f...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Southwestern naturalist 2018-09, Vol.63 (3), p.197-199
Main Authors: Hidalgo-Mihart, Mircea G, Juárez-López, Rugieri, Contreras-Moreno, Fernando, Jesús De La Cruz, Alejandro, López-Luna, Marco A, De La Cruz, Yaribeth Bravata
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal behavior
Biodiversity
Birds
Cameras
Carnivores
Drymarchon melanurus
Endangered & extinct species
FEATURE ARTICLES
Hunting
Indigo
Prey
Snakes
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Summary:The greater grison (Galictis vittatta) is one of the least studied Neotropical carnivores. As part of a biodiversity survey in southeastern Mexico, we recorded in a camera trap a greater grison that carried in its mouth a Central American indigo snake (Drymarchon melanurus). Even though we did not find evidence that the snake was consumed by the greater grison in place, it is likely that the species carried the snake to a refuge to be eaten as previously reported with other large prey. If confirmed, this would be the first time that the greater grison has been documented hunting and probably feeding on snakes in Mexico and elsewhere.
ISSN:0038-4909
1943-6262
DOI:10.1894/0038-4909-63-3-197