Food composition of Uludağ frog, <em>Rana macrocnemis</em> Boulenger, 1885 in Uludağ (Bursa, Turkey)

Abstract

Feeding habit and food preferences of Uludağ frog, Rana macrocnemis were studied in 2006 and 2007 in Uludağ (Bursa, Turkey). Stomach contents of 165 (87 males, 58 females, 20 juveniles) individuals were analyzed and a total of 2,129 prey items were determined. It was found that the species fed mainly on a variety of invertebrates and especially on insects (96.5%). The most frequently consumed prey items were Coleoptera (62.8%), Diptera (14.4%), and Hymenoptera (9.8%). There was no significant sex- and age-dependent difference in the feeding regime. It appears that the species is feeding less in the breeding period and more in the post-breeding period. It was also evident that there was an increase in the consumption of Coleoptera depending on the elevation.