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Main Author: van den Berghe, Eric
Format: Recurso digital
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Published: Zenodo 2025
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18099221
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author van den Berghe, Eric
author_facet van den Berghe, Eric
contents <p>An unusual case of predation reversal is reported in which an adult Rhynchophorus palmarum caused  the death of an insectivorous bird, Quiscalus mexicanus, during an attempted predation event. The  observation suggests that the combination of an exceptionally hardened exoskeleton and the active use  of recurved tibial spines allowed the weevil to firmly anchor to the bird’s neck, resulting in  strangulation. This mechanical anti-predator mechanism has not been previously described and may  represent a more widespread defensive strategy within the genus Rhynchophorus. </p>
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institution Zenodo
language
publishDate 2025
publisher Zenodo
record_format zenodo
spellingShingle David and Goliath: a palm weevil (Rhynchophorus palmarum) kills a Great- tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus) in Nicaragua
van den Berghe, Eric
<p>An unusual case of predation reversal is reported in which an adult Rhynchophorus palmarum caused  the death of an insectivorous bird, Quiscalus mexicanus, during an attempted predation event. The  observation suggests that the combination of an exceptionally hardened exoskeleton and the active use  of recurved tibial spines allowed the weevil to firmly anchor to the bird’s neck, resulting in  strangulation. This mechanical anti-predator mechanism has not been previously described and may  represent a more widespread defensive strategy within the genus Rhynchophorus. </p>
title David and Goliath: a palm weevil (Rhynchophorus palmarum) kills a Great- tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus) in Nicaragua
url https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18099221