DIET OF TADPOLES FROM A POND IN IGUAZU NATIONAL

Gut contents of anuran larva (Elachistocleis bicolor, Chaunus schneideri, Odontophrynus americanus, Scinax fuscovarius, and S. granulatus) that coexist in a semi-permanent waterbody from Iguazú National Park (Misiones, Argentina) was analyzed. Our objective was analyse the gut contents of different tadpole species that coexist in the same water body during seasons of minimum and maximum precipitation, to increase the knowledge of the natural history of these tadpoles. Elachistocleis bicolor (obligate-suspension-feeder) it presents only planktonic algae in its gut (92%). In gut of S. fuscovarius and S. granulatus (nektonic) planktonic algae were abundant, especially in the rainy season (14 and 41%). The guts of C. schneideri and O. americanus (benthic) showed sediments (55 % and 17.5%) and vegetable fibers (33 and 61%). The largest particle size (< 100 µm) was found in the guts of C. schneideri and the smallest (< 25 µm) in O. americanus and E. bicolor