Diet and feeding behaviour of the edible frog Hoplobatrachus occipitalis (Amphibia: Anura) (original) (raw)
The diet of Hoplobatrachus occipitalis the edible frog was studied in 104 specimens collected between November 2009 and May 2010 from Benin City to determine their feeding behaviour and food preference. Specimens were dissected to assess their stomach contents. A total of 701 prey items in 16 prey categories were recorded. Most prey items were terrestrial invertebrates although two vertebrates -a rodent and an amphibian were also recorded in stomachs of seven Hoplobatrachus occipitalis revealing their cannibalistic tendency. The most abundant stomach contents were Trichoptera (50.37%) with a degree of food preference (DFP 2.55) and Hymenoptera (21.27%) with DFP 1.08. Although the feeding pattern of H. occipitalis is continuous, the large presence of Trichoptera shows it is most active at night. Results of this work would aid the cultivation of this species which is being hunted greatly in the wild for their fleshy legs and taste and thus help to conserve them.
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