A prickly subject: innovative handling of a difficult prey
Linda BehrendorffSchool of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Qld 4343, Australia. Current address: Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of National Parks, Sport and Racing, Fraser Island, Qld 4581, Australia. Email: linda.behrendorff@npsr.qld.gov.au
Australian Mammalogy 40(2) 294-296 https://doi.org/10.1071/AM17024
Submitted: 5 April 2017 Accepted: 4 July 2017 Published: 3 August 2017
Abstract
Canids are generally considered to be ambush predators, but in island ecosystems adaptability and flexibility are essential for survival. Dingoes (Canis lupus dingo) attack and kill their prey in a variety of ways including utilising waterbodies. Here I document the drowning of an adult short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus) before consumption by a dingo using the coastal surf beach intertidal to shallow subtidal area on the eastern coast of Fraser Island (K’gari), highlighting an innovative prey-handling technique.
Additional keywords: beach, Canis lupus dingo, diet, Fraser Island, predator, resource subsidies.
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