What the Dead Tell Us about the Living: Using Roadkill to Analyze the Diet and Endoparasite Prevalence in Two Bahamian Snakes
There is very little information of the foraging ecology and parasite infections of many snake species. Here, we used opportunistically collected roadkill to assess diet and parasite prevalence in two snake species in The Bahamas, the Bahamian Racer (Cubophis vudii vudii) and the Bahamian Boa (Chilabothrus strigilatus strigilatus). Over eight months, we conducted up to four daily routine road surveys along a 10 km stretch of highway, as well as opportunistic surveys elsewhere on the island of Eleuthera. Overall, we collected 270 roadkilled snakes of which less than half (39%) were intact and suitable for analyses. Lizards were the most prevalent prey items, although we also found rodents and other snakes. We report on new prey items for the Bahamian Racer, including two snakes and a case of oophagy. Endoparasites, which appeared to be all nematodes, were present only in Bahamian Racers, with 74% of all individuals infected. Parasite infection rates and loads were higher in females than in males. We show that using roadkilled snakes is an effective method for studying the diet and endoparasite prevalence in snakes on a Bahamian island.

Overview of the study site including the survey area and the different habitat types found along the survey stretch. The red box in the inset map represents the extent of the main map.

Proportion of food items found inside stomachs of intact Chilabothrus strigilatus strigilatus and Cubophis vudii vudii.

Proportion of damaged and intact snakes collected via either regular surveys (Routine) or opportunistically (Opportunistic), split up by sex for all species combined. Snakes for which sex could not be determined were removed (n = 45).
Contributor Notes
Associate Editor: M. J. Lannoo.