N OVIA SOUTH-WEST, EDO STATE, NIGERIA.

A survey was conducted in the month of August, 2023 in order to investigate the foodand feeding habit of Sclerophrys maculata in Okomu Rubber Plantation in Ovia South -West, Edo State, Nigeria. The study was carried out in order to contribute to the available information on the food and feeding habit of the Sclerophrys maculata. The specimens examined were captured at night using visual and acoustic encounter sampling techniques among grasses while they were out to feed or mate. The anurans were euthanized by exposing them to chloroform in a killing jar and then injected through the peritoneum with 10% formalin to preserve the stomach content and then stored in a bottle filled with 10% formalin. A total of nine Sclerophrys maculata comprising of 3 males and 6 females, were examined for their dietary content. Analysis of the prey items recovered from the stomach of the species showed the occurrence of three prey item categories: Hymenoptera, Coleoptera, and Blattodea. Hymenoptera was the most abundant preyitemsaccounting for 92.16% while other prey items were Coleoptera (3.92%) and Blattodea (3.92%). There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in the feeding rate of both male and female specimens. The high prey abundance of Hymenopterans recovered from the toads confirmed the description that they are sit-and-wait feeders and myrmecophagous specialists but may opportunistically feed on other prey items.