Vol. 20 No. 2 (2025)
Short Note

Trophic plasticity and novel predator-prey interaction between two introduced snakes in a Mediterranean island

PDF
  • Enrique Pantoja,
  • Samuel Pinya
Enrique Pantoja
Interdisciplinary Ecology Group, University of the Balearic Islands, Ctra. Valldemossa km 7,5, 07122 Palma, Balearic Islands, Spain
Samuel Pinya
Interdisciplinary Ecology Group, University of the Balearic Islands, Ctra. Valldemossa km 7,5, 07122 Palma, Balearic Islands, Spain
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36253/a_h-18298

Published 2025-11-20

Keywords

  • interspecific ophiophagy,
  • invasion dynamics,
  • insular ecology,
  • biotic resistance,
  • Colubridae

How to Cite

Pantoja, E., & Pinya, S. (2025). Trophic plasticity and novel predator-prey interaction between two introduced snakes in a Mediterranean island. Acta Herpetologica, 20(2), 263–266. https://doi.org/10.36253/a_h-18298

Copyright (c) 2025 Enrique Pantoja, Samuel Pinya

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Crossref
Scopus
Google Scholar
Europe PMC

Abstract

We report the first documented case of interspecific ophiophagy by the naturalised false smooth snake (Macroprotodon mauritanicus), preying on the introduced horseshoe whip snake (Hemorrhois hippocrepis) in Mallorca (Balearic Islands, Spain). The event occurred in a suburban garden and was photographically recorded. While M. mauritanicus is known to consume reptiles, interspecific ophiophagy has not previously been documented. This observation represents a novel trophic interaction between two introduced colubrids. It was likely facilitated by the increasing local abundance of H. hippocrepis and by the ecological constraints of insular systems. Together with a previous report of avian predation on H. hippocrepis in Mallorca, it suggests that both native or naturalised predators may be incorporating this species into their diets. This finding adds new information on the trophic ecology of M. mauritanicus and highlights the dynamic nature of predator-prey interactions in island ecosystems, potentially involving juvenile individuals due to size-related constraints.

PDF

References

  1. Álvarez, C., Mateo, J.A., Oliver, J., Mayol, J. (2010): Los ofidios ibéricos de introducción reciente en las Islas Baleares. Bol. Asoc. Herpetol. Esp. 21: 126-131.
  2. Ayllón, E. (2015): La culebra de herradura (Hemorrhois hippocrepis) en las Islas Baleares. Bol. Asoc. Herpetol. Esp. 26: 88-91.
  3. Barbadillo, L.J. (1987): La guía de Incafo de los anfibios y reptiles de la Península Ibérica, Islas Baleares y Canarias. Guías verdes de Incafo. INCAFO, Madrid.
  4. Capellà, J., Mateo, J.A., Mayol, J., Pleguezuelos, J.M. (2011): Canibalismo en Macroprotodon mauritanicus en la isla de Mallorca. Bol. Asoc. Herpetol. Esp. 22: 44-46.
  5. Carlquist, S.J. (1974): Island Biology. Columbia University Press, New York, USA.
  6. Carranza, S., Arnold, E.N., Wade, E., Fahd, S. (2004): Phylogeography of the false smooth snakes, Macroprotodon (Serpentes, Colubridae): Mitochondrial DNA sequences show European populations arrived recently from Northwest Africa. Mol. Phyl. Evol. 33: 523-532.
  7. Díaz-Paniagua, C. (1976): Alimentación de la culebra bastarda (Malpolon monspessulanus; Ophidia, Colubridae) en el S.O. de España. Doñana. Acta Vertebr. 3: 113-127.
  8. Faraone, F.P. (2020): A case of cannibalism in the false smooth snake Macroprotodon cucullatus on the island of Lampedusa. Herpetol. Bull. 152: 43-44.
  9. Febrer-Serra, M. (2023): Impact of invasive snakes in the balearic islands: An ecological and molecular approach. Doctoral dissertation. Universitat de les Illes Balears, Palma de Mallorca, Spain.
  10. Feriche, M. (2017): Culebra de herradura – Hemorrhois hippocrepis. In: Enciclopedia Virtual de los Vertebrados Españoles. Sanz, J.J., Martínez-Freiría, F., Eds, Madrid, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales. Available at: https://www.vertebradosibericos.org (Accessed on 14 July 2025).
  11. Fritts, T.H., Rodda, G.H. (1998): The role of introduced species in the degradation of island ecosystems: A case history of Guam. Annu. Rev. Ecol. Evol. Syst. 29: 113-140.
  12. Govern de les Illes Balears. (2023): Pla hidrològic de les Illes Balears 2021–2027. Conselleria d’Agricultura, Pesca i Medi Natural. Direcció General de Recursos Hídrics. Available at: https://www.caib.es/sites/aigua/ca/pla_hidrolagic_de_les_illes_balears/ (Accessed on 14 July 2025).
  13. Henderson, R.W., Powell, R. (2009): Natural history of west Indian Reptiles and Amphibians. University Press of Florida, USA.
  14. Hinckley, A., Montes, E., Ayllón, E., Pleguezuelos, J.M. (2016): The fall of a symbol? A high predation rate by the introduced horseshoe whip snake Hemorrhois hippocrepis paints a bleak future for the endemic Ibiza wall lizard Podarcis pityusensis. Eur. J. Wildl. Res. 63: 13.
  15. Mayol, J. (1985): Rèptils i Amfibis de les Balears. Editorial Moll, Palma de Mallorca, Spain.
  16. Montes, E., Kraus, F., Chergui, B., Pleguezuelos, J.M. (2022): Collapse of the endemic lizard Podarcis pityusensis on the island of Ibiza mediated by an invasive snake. Curr. Zool. 68: 295-303.
  17. Pinya, S., Carretero, M.A. (2011): The Balearic herpetofauna: A species update and a review on the evidence. Acta Herpetol. 6: 59-80.
  18. Piquet, J.C., López-Darias, M. (2021): Invasive snake causes massive reduction of all endemic herpetofauna on Gran Canaria. Proc. R. Soc. B. 288: 20211939.
  19. Pleguezuelos, J.M. (1998): Coluber hippocrepis Linnaeus, 1758 In: Fauna Ibérica, Vol. 10, pp. 347–358. Salvador, A. (Coord.), Ramos, M.A. et al., Eds, Madrid, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC.
  20. Pleguezuelos, J., Honrubia, S., Castillo, S. (1994): Diet of the false smooth snake, Macroprotodon cucullatus (Serpentes, Colubridae) in the western Mediterranean area. Herpetol. J. 4: 98-105.
  21. Pleguezuelos, J. M., Vasconcelos, R. (2015): Culebra de cogulla argelina – Macroprotodon cucullatus In: Enciclopedia Virtual de los Vertebrados Españoles. Salvador, A., Marco, A., Eds, Madrid, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales. Available at: https://www.vertebradosibericos.org/ (Accessed on 14 July 2025)
  22. Rodda G.H., Savidge, J.A. (2007): Biology and impacts of Pacific Island invasive species. 2. Boiga irregularis, the Brown Tree Snake (Reptilia: Colubridae). Pac. Sci. 61: 307-324.
  23. Savidge, J.A. (1987): Extinction of an island forest avifauna by an introduced snake. Ecology. 68: 660-668.
  24. Solà, J., Blasco, P., Negre, N., Leza, M., Puig, M. (2015): Primera troballa de serp de ferradura Hemorrhois hippocrepis en el contingut estomacal d’un agró blau Ardea cinerea a Mallorca. Anu. Ornitol. Balears. 30: 29-34.