Potential predation of a mud turtle by a jaguar (Panthera onca): evidence from camera traps in the Mexican Maya Forest

A rare instance of potential predation of a mud turtle by a jaguar (Panthera onca) was captured using camera traps within the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve, Mexico. This observation contributes to the limited documentation of reptile consumption in jaguars' diets, particularly in Mexico. The study employed 4,705 trap-nights over two years to monitor vertebrate communities in the Maya Forest, revealing a subadult jaguar holding an unidentified mud turtle (Kinosternon sp.) in its jaws in November 2023. This finding underscores the dietary flexibility of jaguars and highlights the utility of camera traps in studying predator-prey interactions in tropical ecosystems.

Rodríguez-Luna, C. R., Diaz-Gamboa, L., & Ibarra-Cerdeña, C. N. (2025). Potential predation of a mud turtle by a jaguar (Panthera onca): evidence from camera traps in the Mexican Maya Forest. Therya Notes, 6(3), 113–120. https://doi.org/10.12933/therya_notes-24-208