LIÉBANA, M.S., SANTILLÁN, M.A., MALLET, J. and SARASOLA, J.H. 2015. Predation on Philodryas patagoniensis (Squamata, Colubridae) by Falco femoralis (Aves, Falconiformes, Falconidae) in central Argentina. Herpetology Notes 8: 411-412.

Abstract: The Patagonia Green Racer (Philodryas patagoniensis, Squamata, Colubridae) is a widespread snake that occurs in Argentina, Brazil, eastern Bolivia and Uruguay (Cei, 1993). In Argentina this species ranges from northern (Formosa, Misiones, Corrientes, Salta, Jujuy, Tucumán, Santiago del Estero, Chaco and La Rioja) and central provinces (Mendoza, La Pampa, Córdoba, Santa Fe, Entre Ríos, San Luis) up to northern Patagonia (Neuquén, Rio Negro, Chubut) in the south (Cei, 1993). The Patagonian Green Racer is a medium-sized diurnal colubrid snake that exhibits a territorial behavior, and inhabits mainly open areas as grassland and savannas (Cei, 1993; Scolaro, 2005). Here we present a case of predation on the Patagonian Green Racer by an ornithophagus raptor, the Aplomado Falcon (Falconidae: Falco femoralis). The observation was made in an agricultural landscape from La Pampa province, in central Argentina, during bird’s reproductive season (austral spring).

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