Greater Antillean Grackle (Quiscalus niger) preys on Anolis grahami
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Abstract: A female Greater Antillean Grackle (Quiscalus niger) was observed to dismember and consume a large male Anolis grahami in Kingston, Jamaica. The entire dismemberment sequence lasted 57 minutes. The large size of the anole indicates that the geographically-widespread grackle may be capable of preying on all size classes of the seven Jamaican Anolis species, with the possible exception of adult male Anolis garmani, the largest species on the island. This observation also suggests that individual grackles may exhibit handedness.
Keywords: Anolis grahami, Caribbean, Greater Antillean Grackle, Jamaica, predation, Quiscalus niger
Resumen: El Chichinguaco (Quiscalus niger) depredando Anolis grahami- Una hembra de Chichinguaco (Quiscalus niger) fue observada desmembrando y consumiedo un gran macho de Anolis grahami en Kingston, Jamaica. La secuencia completa duró 57 minutos. El gran tamaño del lagarto indica que esta ave, ampliamente distribuida es capaz de depredar todas las tallas de las siete especies de Anolis de Jamaica, con la posible excepción de los machos adultos de Anolis garmani, la mayor de las especies de la isla. Esta observación también sugiere que Quiscalus individuales pueden tener lateralidad.
Palabras clave: Anolis grahami, Caribe, Chichinguaco, depredación, Jamaica, Quiscalus niger
Résumé: Le Quiscale noir (Quiscalus niger) est un predateur de Anolis grahami- Une femelle de Quiscale noir (Quiscalus niger) a été observée en train de démembrer et de consommer un grand mâle d’Anolis grahami à Kingston en Jamaïque. La durée complète du démembrement a été de 57 minutes. La grande taille de cet anolis confirme que ce quiscale à large aire de répartition est capable de capturer toutes les classes de taille des sept espèces d’Anolis jamaicains, à l’exception, peut-être, du mâle adulte de l’Anolis garmani, la plus grande espèce de l’île. Cette observation suggère aussi que des individus de quiscales peuvent montrer une certaine adresse “manuelle”.
Mots clés: Anolis grahami, Caraïbe, Jamaïque, prédation, Quiscalus niger, Quiscale noir
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