Tricho-taxonomic prey identifications from faeces of Indian Rock Python (Linnaeus, 1758) (Reptilia: Squamata: Pythonidae) in Moyar River Valley, Tamil Nadu, India

Identifying the prey species is crucial for successful conservation and landscape-level management of large predators whose feeding ecology is incompletely known. Assessment of faecal samples is a viable method for achieving this goal. The Indian Rock Python Python molurus, one of India’s largest snakes, is an ambush predator trophically-equated to apex predator in its ecosystem. Yet, compared to trophically-similar big cats and canids there is a notable lack of research on its prey items in southern Indian regions. In this study, 31 faecal samples from radio-tagged pythons and other pythons inhabiting the Moyar River Valley were studied. These samples were dried and washed to obtain the hairs to identify the species. Hairs were obtained from 11 faecal samples, and prey species were identified using the tricho-taxonomy. Our findings revealed that mammals constitute the majority of consumed prey. Pythons preferred the palm squirrel Funambulus palmarum as the most desirable prey. Other large prey species include the Sloth Bear Melursus ursinus, the Sambar Deer Rusa unicolor, and the Spotted Deer Axis axis. Seasonal variation in prey species intake peaked during September–November, while no prey species were recorded during April–August.