Piscivory in the Comb-crested Jacana Irediparra gallinacea

Matthew Mo, Anthony C. Gill, Amanda Hay


Abstract

This note describes two observations of fish predation by Comb-crested Jacana(s) Irediparra gallinacea at the Cattai Wetlands, Coopernook, New South Wales. The fish were ~3 cm and 5–6 cm long, and one was identified as an Empire Gudgeon Hypseleotris compressa. These observations appear to be the first reported instances of Comb-crested Jacana(s) handling and consuming fish prey, with the only previous study reporting piscivory limited to identifying trace remains of fish in
stomach contents.

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