IUCN/SSC Otter Specialist Group Bulletin
©IUCN/SCC Otter Specialist Group
Volume 39 Issue 1 (February 2022)
Citation: Ayo, C.A., Lasso, C.A. and Trujillo, F. (2022). Predation Event on Iguana Iguana by Pteronura Brasiliensis in the mid Tillavá River Basin, Colombia. IUCN Otter Spec. Group Bull. 39 (1): 39 - 43
Predation Event on Iguana Iguana by Pteronura Brasiliensis in the mid Tillavá River Basin, Colombia
Carlos A. Aya1*, Carlos A. Lasso2, and Fernando Trujillo1*
1Fundación Omacha, Carrera 20 # 133-32, Barrio La Calleja, Bogotá D. C., Colombia.
2Instituto de Investigación de Recursos Biológicos Alexander von Humboldt, Calle 28 A # 15 - 09 Bogotá D.C., Colombia
*Corresponding Author Email: c.aya@omacha.org
(Received 6th May 2021, accepted 9th September 2021)
Abstract: The Giant otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) is a semi-aquatic mammal listed as Endangered (EN) at national and international levels. On 20th April 2021, a P. brasiliensis was sighted and a video recorded the killing a Common green iguana (Iguana iguana). In this short note we report the first record of attack and consumption of iguana by giant otter and includ the Giant otter in the list of the occasional predators of these widespread lizards in a tributary of Tillavá River, tributary of the Vichada River, department of Meta, Colombia.
Keywords: Occasional attack, prey, interspecific interaction, large lizard, Orinoco region.
INTRODUCTION
The Giant otter (Pteronura brasiliensis Zimmermann, 1780) is the largest freshwater otter in the world. In Colombia this monotypic and semi-aquatic carnivore inhabits the Orinoco and Amazon basins (Noonan et al., 2017; Duplaix et al., 2015; Trujillo et al., 2015). The giant otter is classified as Endangered (EN) at national and international levels (Groenendijk et al., 2015; Rodríguez-Mahecha et al., 2006; Trujillo et al., 2016). At national level threats include the retaliation of the fishermen by fishing resource, because the local people consider that the presence of this mammals decreases fish availability, or that they can remove fish from fishing nets, illegal traffic as pets, fishing overexploitation, and the mercury bioaccumulation in dam fishes by the illegal minery in the basin (Rodríguez-Mahecha et al., 2006; Trujillo et al., 2015). In particular, the Orinoco giant otter populations suffer additional pressures such as accelerated transformation of habitats, depletion of fish stocks and contamination of freshwater (Trujillo and Mosquera-Guerra, 2018).
The common Green Iguana, Iguana iguana (Linnaeus, 1758), is a widespread arboreal reptile that occurs from North of Mexico to Paraguay, including numerous islands (Bock, 2013; Bock et al., 2018). In tropical humid forest the iguanas appear to select the branches of trees where they can thermoregulate or rest near rivers, lakes and open areas into which they can escape when threatened (Bock, 2013; Oliveira and Castro, 2017).
METHODS
This record was obtained opportunistically as part of a study on river dolphins (Inia geoffrensis) and giant otter (P. brasiliensis) and their interrelations with other hydrobiological resources and wetlands of Tillavá River (Orinoco basin), department of Meta, Colombia. During 14 to 23 of April 2021 we surveyed the Tillavá River and tributaries (Rubiales and El Puente) for approximately 277 km in a boat at a velocity of 15 km per hour. This clear water river is located in a vast area known as Altillanura (part of the Colombian Shield), a landscape that extends from the east of the department of Meta to the department of Vichada, with an area of 86,211 km2, equivalent to 7.5% of the area of Colombia (Serrato, 2018).
RESULTS
On April 20, 2021, two subadult giant otters were recorded in the Caño El Puente, a tributary of Tillavá River (N 3º45'3.146"N latitude and -71º20'52.263"W longitude), Vereda Rubiales, department of Meta. At around 11h40, one of these animals hunted an iguana (approximately 70 cm length including the tail) that was in the water; this lizard threw himself from a tree branch. The attack consisted of biting the head and immersing it in the water by turning on its body. Once the iguana was dead, the giant otter swam upstream (Figure 1). We hypothesized that the iguana would shortly be eaten. Additional video is available at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmILJbYV-z4
In summary, here we report the first known case of predation by P. brasiliensis on a large lizard (I. guana). This opportunistic feeding behavior can be associated with the high-water season, as documented by Duplaix et al. (2015), when fish are dispersed throughout large areas in the flooded forest. In the Orinoco region, this month (April) of the year usually corresponds with the dry season (January-April; Trujillo and Mosquera-Guerra., 2018). Nevertheless, the increase in water level is notable, and our observation confirms the activity of the giant otters in tributaries when the main rivers have high water levels.
A fundamental aspect to consider in this type of predation event is the relatively high availability of iguanas in the area. In a 20 km stretch of the Rubiales River, a tributary of the Tillavá River, researchers reported 93 iguanas throwing themselves from the trees into the water every time they sensed the boat (4.6 iguanas per km. pers. com). This evasive behavior of the iguanas seems to be induced by the active hunting of these reptiles by indigenous communities in the area.
Acknowledgements: We thank an environment authority Cormacarena, Instituto Alexander von Humboldt, and Fundación Omacha for supporting this research under cooperation agreement number 20-264 (Humboldt-Cormacarena) and 264-049 (Humboldt-Fundación Omacha). We would like to thank Evaristo Urrea, Jaime Guzman, among others of the research group for their collaboration during field work.
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Résumé: Premiere Predation sur Iguana Iguana par Pteronura Braziliensis dans le bassin moyen de la Riviere Tillavá en Colombie
La loutre géante (Pteronura brasiliensis) est un mammifère semi-aquatique répertorié comme en danger (EN) aux niveaux national et international. Le 20 avril 2021, une loutre géante P. brasiliensis a été observée et une vidéo a enregistré une attaque mortelle d'un iguane vert commun (Iguana iguana). Dans cette courte note, nous rapportons le premier enregistrement d'attaque et de consommation d'un iguane par la loutre géante et incluons la loutre géante dans la liste des prédateurs occasionnels de ces lézards répandus sur un affluent de la rivière Tillavá, tributaire de la rivière Vichada, dans le département de Meta, en Colombie
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Resumen: Evento De Depredación de Iguana Iguana por Pteronura Brasiliensis en la cuenca media del Río Tillavá, Colombia
La nutria gigante (Pteronura brasiliensis) es un mamífero semiacuático que se encuentra en Peligro (EN) a escala nacional e internacional. El 20 de abril de 2021, P. brasiliensis fue registrada y filmada en video depredando una iguana verde común (Iguana iguana). En esta nota corta reportamos el primer registro de ataque y consumo de iguana por parte de la nutria gigante e incluimos la nutria gigante en la lista de depredadores ocasionales de estas iguanas ampliamente distribuidas en un tributario del río Tillavá, afluente del río Vichada, Meta, Colombia.
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