Citizen science contributions to understanding the predation behavior of Philodryas nattereri (Squamata: Dipsadidae): new prey species and second record of cannibalism

Philodryas nattereri is a dipsadid snake widely distributed in South America. Although it is a wellknown species regarding its diet, only a small portion of the records are related to observations in the natural environment, resulting in a lack of information about its predatory behavior. The predation records were mainly obtained through the citizen science platform iNaturalist and investigated before inclusion. The results are consistent with other studies, corroborating that P. nattereri has a generalist diet. We have added three new prey predator interactions for P. nattereri, as well as confirming for the second time its cannibalism. These records expand the knowledge on its ecology and predation behavior, with significant implications for understanding ecological processes in areas where P. nattereri occurs. Furthermore, the benefits of citizen science are emphasized as a valuable tool for gathering information about biodiversity, highlighting the role of citizens in contributing to the advance of biological scientific knowledge.