Herpetological Review 41(2), 2010 201

Gerais and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, nine adults of Melanophryniscus moreirae (seven males and two females) were observed exhibiting unken refl ex in potentially threatening situations such as fall (N = 2), handling (N = 6), and accidental trampling (N = 1), exposing the bright red coloration of limbs and throat. All nine individuals also exhibited the posture when their backs were pressed with a fi nger against our hands, vegetation, or other substrate, as shown in Fig. 1. The observations were made between September–December (Spring–Summer) during 2005–2008 and in October 2009. The individual observed in 2009 was a male and displayed the behavior during amplexus (Fig. 2), persisting even when the female moved. After a few minutes the male released his hold but still displayed the unken refl ex behavior. This is the fi rst report of unken refl ex in M. moreirae group and, as far as we know, the fi rst record for unken refl ex behavior in a paired amphibian.

We thank Carla da Costa Siqueira and Davor Vrcibradic for the help with fi eldwork and the critical reading of the manuscript. PAS and DSN benefi tted from grants from the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES). PAA was greatful to the CNPq (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científi co e Tecnológico) for the grants. Fieldwork was supported by grants from the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científi co e Tecnológico (CNPq, to MVS) and the Fundação Boticário de Proteção à Natureza.

Submitted by PATRÍCIA ALMEIDA-SANTOS (e-mail: p_almeidasantos@yahoo.com.br), DENISE SOUZA DO NASCIMENTO, PATRÍCIA ALVES ABRUNHOSA, and MONIQUE VAN SLUYS, Departamento de Ecologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rua São Francisco Xavier 524, Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.

ODONTOPHRYNUS cf. AMERICANUS (NCN). PREDATION Despite the great variety of taxa known to prey on amphibians, records from Argentina are scarce. Current information on preda-tion of Odontophrynus spp. is lacking. Here we provide with the fi rst report of Liophis vanzolinii (Colubridae) predating Odonto-phrynus cf. americanus. On 12 Oct 2008 at 1520 h at Estancia Las Verbenas, Valle de Pancanta (WGS84, 32.8666667°S, 66.1°W; 1650 m elev.), Central Ranges of San Luis Province, Argentina, we observed an adult L. vanzolinii (460 mm TL) predating an O. cf. americanus (43 mm SVL). This interaction was observed in a pasture near a rocky stream bordered by Cortaderia selloana grass. These specimens were collected and immediately after capture, the snake released the frog, which died within a few minutes. These specimens are deposited in the Herpetological Collection of Universidad Nacional de San Juan (UNSJ-1000 Odontophrynus cf. americanus; UNSJ-1002 Liophis vanzolinii). Both species are common in this area and it is possible that this interaction occurs on a regular basis. This observation suggests that L. vanzolinii is a natural predator of O. cf. americanus and that the “blue” skin toxins (unreported blue coloration of toxin secretion; Laspiur and Buff, pers. obs.) of O. cf. americanus might not be an effective defense against L. vanzolinii. We thank Sol Acosta for help with fi eld work and review of this note.

Submit ted by ALEJANDRO LASPIUR (e -mai l : (laspiursaurus@gmail.com), JUAN CARLOS ACOSTA, RO-DRIGO ACOSTA, and GRACIELA BLANCO, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Avenida Ignacio de la Roza 590 (N), Caixa Postal 5400, San Juan, Argentina.

PHYLLODYTES LUTEOLUS (Yellow Heart-tongued Frog) PREDATION. Spiders and invertebrates are well known predators of frogs (Formanowicz et al. 1981. Herpetologica 37:125–129; Prado and Borgo 2003. Herpetol. Rev. 34:238–239; Toledo 2005. Herpetol. Rev. 36:395–400; Menin et al. 2005. Phyllomedusa 4[1]:39–47). On 13 April 2006 at 2015 h we observed predation of Phyllodytes luteolus by the spider Phoneutria cf bahiensis (Fig. 1). This observation occurred on a terrestrial bromeliad in the coastal ecosystem at Belmonte Municipality, Bahia, Brazil. This is the fi rst

FIG. 1 (top). Adult male Melanophryniscus moreirae (SVL = 26.6 mm) exhibiting unken refl ex after being pressed by a fi nger against the substrate (photo: P. Almeida-Santos). FIG. 2 (bottom). Adult male Melanophryniscus moreirae exhibiting unken refl ex behavior during axillary amplexus. Photo: P. Almeida-Santos.

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