Abstract

ESCAMILLA-CORTES, Gaudencio  and  GARCIA-GRAJALES, Jesús. First documented observation of predation of the Blue Land Crab (Cardisoma crassum) by the Common Black Hawk (Buteogallus anthracinus) in Oaxaca, Mexico. Huitzil [online]. 2024, vol.25, n.1, e664.  Epub Sep 09, 2024. ISSN 1870-7459.  https://doi.org/10.28947/hrmo.2024.25.1.738.

Little information exists on the diet of the Common Black Hawk (Buteogallus anthracinus) in Mexico. We provide the first documented observation of predation on a crab by the Common Black Hawk in a mangrove swamp on the coast of Oaxaca, Mexico. On 24 April 2023, at 09:00 h, we observed a Common Black Hawk fly out of the mangrove swamp with a crab between both feet. We observed for 15 mins while the hawk consumed the crab on a post. We identified the Blue Land Crab (Cardisoma crassum) by the characteristic blue color of the shell, and orange claws and belly. Our observation contributes to knowledge of the diet of the Common Black Hawk and its consumption of a crab species that bioaccumulates metals and metalloids. This opens the possibility of conducting research to assess the risk of transfer and bioaccumulation from prey to predator that could compromise the conservation status of this raptor.

Keywords : Accipitridae; Gecarcinidae; mangrove; riparian species; opportunistic.

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