Limnetica 39
Diet of larval Pleurodeles walt (urodela: salamandridae) throughout its distributional range
Larval diet has important implications for assessing suitable reproduction habitats for amphibians. In this study we investigated the diet of larvae of the Iberian ribbed newt (Pleurodeles waltl), an urodele endemic of the western Mediterranean region. We examined the stomach contents of 150 larvae captured in 30 ponds in Spain, Portugal and Morocco. We found that the larvae predate primarily on microcrustaceans (Cladocera, Ostracoda and Copepoda) and larvae of aquatic insects (Chironomidae, Culicidae and Dytiscidae). However, P. waltl was found to have a broad dietary range, including terrestrial Arthropoda (Homoptera, Sminthuridae and Formicidae), Gastropoda (Physidae and Planorbidae) and amphibian larvae (Anura and Urodela). As expected, larger larvae had a more diverse diet, as they can capture larger prey.
