Tachymenis Chiliensis Chiliensis (Southern Shorttailed Snake). Diet

Abstract

Tachymenis chiliensis chiliensis is a small (total length ca. 700 mm), terrestrial, viviparous, and diurnal species with a restricted distribution to central Chile and a small area of northwestern Patagonia in Argentina (Avila et al. 2012 Cuad. Herpetol. 26:1–2). Tachymenis species are known to feed mainly on amphibians and lizards (Miranda et al. 2015. Herpetol. Rev. 46:651). On 20 September 2011, we received an adult T. c. chiliensis (SVL = 472 mm, total length = 557 mm) collected at El Pinar (Roberts) Farm, along National Road 259 (42.9188°S, 71.3419°W, WGS 84; 570 m elev.), in the suburban area of Esquel city, Futaleufú Deparment, Chubut Province, Argentina. Upon dissection, we discovered two adult male lizards (Liolaemus bibronii) in the snake’s stomach (swallowed head first; SVLs = 48.0, 59.5 mm). Liolaemus bibronii is a typical inhabitant of Patagonian Steppe environments and its predators are other lizards, snakes, or birds. To our knowledge this is the first record of T. c. chiliensis preying on this species. The snake and lizards are deposited in the Herpetological Collection of the IPEEC-CENPAT, in Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina (LJAMM-CNP 14448 and 8483–8484).