Are the unken reflex and the aposematic colouration of Red-Bellied Toads efficient against bird predation?

ABSTRACT: Aposematic signals as well as body behaviours may be important anti-predator defences. Species of the genus Melanophryniscus are characterised by having toxic lipophilic alkaloids in the skin and for presenting a red ventral colouration, which can be observed when they perform the behaviour called the unken reflex. Both the reflex behaviour and the colouration pattern are described as defence mechanisms. However, there are currently no studies testing their effectiveness against predators. This study aimed to test experimentally if both ventral conspicuous colouration and the unken reflex in Melanophryniscus cambaraensis function as aposematic signals against visually oriented predators (birds). We simulated the species studied using three different clay toad models as follows: (a) in a no

SUBMITTER: Bordignon DW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5875753 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature