Predation of Amphisbaena darwinii (Duméril and Bibrón, 1839) by Phalotris lemniscatus (Duméril, Bibrón, and Duméril, 1854): a contribution to trophic interaction data in squamate reptiles

Abstract

Detailed natural history records constitute a fundamental basis for calibrating complex ecological and evolutionary models. Here, we document a predator–prey interaction between the dipsadid snake Phalotris lemniscatus and the fossorial amphisbaenian Amphisbaena darwinii from southern Brazil. The snake ingested the amphisbaenian head‑first; the prey measured more than 50% of the predator’s total length and 68% of its body circumference, confirming the ability of P. lemniscatus to consume relatively large, elongate prey. The meticulous description of this event, together with explicit morphometric and ecological data, provides a crucial empirical record that helps address the Eltonian shortfall—the scarcity of documented species interaction data. Such records are essential for validating the ecological plausibility of interactions in food‑web models, refining evolutionary inferences about squamate diets, and highlighting the enduring value of scientific collections.