A preliminary survey of the stomach contents of Mueller's toad, Ansonia muelleri Boulenger in Mt. Apo, Davao, Philippines
Date
6-2002
Degree
Bachelor of Science in Biology
College
College of Arts and Sciences (CAS)
Adviser/Committee Chair
Pedro Alviola
Abstract
Twenty Mueller's Toads, Ansonia muelleri Boulenger, were collected and their stomachs analyzed. Sixteen were males; four were females. Morphometric measurements revealed that females were slightly larger than the males. Volumetric analysis of the stomachs, both intact and dissected, yielded small volumes. It also suggested that males take in more food than the females, although it is not conclusive due to the fact that there were more male samples than females. Of the twenty stomachs isolated, six were found to be empty. The diet of the toad includes insects belonging to Orders Hymenoptera, Orthoptera, Colcoptera, Lepidoptera, and Diptera. Non-insect food items include a horsehair worm (Nematoda), sowbugs (isopoda), a spider (Araneida) and plant materials. Hymenopterans were found in majority of the stomachs. Insect items found in the stomachs of females were Hymenopterans only. However, for males, insects of the Orders Hymenoptera, Coleoptera, Diptera, Lepidoptera and Orthoptera were found. Identification was based on wing venation patterns and distinguishing characters on legs, head, thorax and abdomen. Intact food items were quite easily identifiable. In this study, stomach analysts was found to be inefficient in drawing definite conclusions regarding the diet of a muelleri due to insufficient sample size and time for collection.
Language
English
Location
UPLB Main Library Special Collections Section (USCS)
Call Number
Thesis
Recommended Citation
Miralles, Karen V., "A preliminary survey of the stomach contents of Mueller's toad, Ansonia muelleri Boulenger in Mt. Apo, Davao, Philippines" (2002). Undergraduate Theses. 11328.
https://www.ukdr.uplb.edu.ph/etd-undergrad/11328
Document Type
Thesis
