Gruesome twosome kukri rippers: Oligodon formosanus (Günther, 1872) and O. fasciolatus (Günther, 1864) eat Kaloula pulchra Gray, 1831 either by eviscerating or swallowing whole

Predation on adult microhylid frogs Kaloula pulchra by two closely-related colubrid snakes is described, based observations of Oligodon formosanus in Hong Kong and one observation O. fasciolatus Thailand. In instances, was observed cutting open the abdomen this anuran species. case, it performed repeated rotations about its own longitudinal body axis (“death roll”) while head inserted into frog’s abdomen. The purpose behaviour probably to tear off organs swallow them. Once catching swallowing K. whole. that snake also made a series maintained firm grip belly. It concluded that, for these kukri snakes, prey size crucial determining whether gape width allows large preys be swallowed entire.